Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — ROI, Cost & Payback
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville charges a net price of $14,889/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $59,556. Graduates earn a median $56,346 ten years after entry, $7,986/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.5 years — a 20-year net return of $100,164, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 7.5-year payback ranks #659 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 49% of them, and #26 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,889/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $59,556 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $56,346 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,986/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 7.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $100,164 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's own numbers. Net price $14,889 × 4 years = $59,556 total. Median earnings $56,346 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,986 a year of premium. $59,556 ÷ $7,986 = 7.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $100,164. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students graduate with?
A median $20,500 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $56,346 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students graduate?
57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $59,556 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $104,484 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $14,889 net price runs $1,139 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $4,556 more across the full degree.