Elmhurst University vs Wheaton College: which has better ROI?
Wheaton College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $107,900 in 7 years versus 7.4 years at Elmhurst University, on median earnings of $63,756 vs $61,462 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Elmhurst University | Wheaton College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,185 | $26,975 |
| Total net cost | $96,740 | $107,900 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,462 | $63,756 |
| Median debt | $20,489 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 7.4 yrs | 7 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $165,300 | $200,020 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Elmhurst University or Wheaton College?
Elmhurst University, at $24,185 a year after aid versus $26,975 — a gap of $2,790 a year, or $11,160 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Elmhurst University or Wheaton College graduates earn more?
Wheaton College graduates report a median $63,756 ten years after entry, $2,294 more than the $61,462 at Elmhurst University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Elmhurst University or Wheaton College?
Elmhurst University: its completers carry a median $20,489 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Wheaton College, a difference of $2,761. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
85% of students finish at Wheaton College, against 70% at Elmhurst University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.