Lincoln Land Community College vs University of Illinois Springfield: which has better ROI?
University of Illinois Springfield has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $39,332 in 4.5 years versus not at all at Lincoln Land Community College, on median earnings of $57,103 vs $38,479 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lincoln Land Community College | University of Illinois Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,299 | $9,833 |
| Total net cost | $17,196 | $39,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,479 | $57,103 |
| Median debt | $11,011 | $19,128 |
| Payback | — | 4.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$214,816 | $135,528 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lincoln Land Community College or University of Illinois Springfield?
Lincoln Land Community College, at $4,299 a year after aid versus $9,833 — a gap of $5,534 a year, or $22,136 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lincoln Land Community College or University of Illinois Springfield graduates earn more?
University of Illinois Springfield graduates report a median $57,103 ten years after entry, $18,624 more than the $38,479 at Lincoln Land Community 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, Lincoln Land Community College or University of Illinois Springfield?
Lincoln Land Community College: its completers carry a median $11,011 in federal loans versus $19,128 at University of Illinois Springfield, a difference of $8,117. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at University of Illinois Springfield, against 48% at Lincoln Land Community 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.