Knox College vs Illinois College: which has better ROI?
Knox College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,380 in 15.2 years versus 17.4 years at Illinois College, on median earnings of $54,820 vs $52,575 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Knox College | Illinois College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,595 | $18,298 |
| Total net cost | $98,380 | $73,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,820 | $52,575 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,565 |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | 17.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $30,820 | $11,108 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Knox College or Illinois College?
Illinois College, at $18,298 a year after aid versus $24,595 — a gap of $6,297 a year, or $25,188 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Knox College or Illinois College graduates earn more?
Knox College graduates report a median $54,820 ten years after entry, $2,245 more than the $52,575 at Illinois College. 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, Knox College or Illinois College?
Illinois College: its completers carry a median $25,565 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Knox College, a difference of $1,435. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Knox College, against 64% at Illinois College. 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.