University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs DeVry University-Illinois: which has better ROI?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,420 in 1.8 years versus not at all at DeVry University-Illinois, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $45,987 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | DeVry University-Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $30,770 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $123,080 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $45,987 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $24,807 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | -$170,540 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or DeVry University-Illinois?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, at $14,355 a year after aid versus $30,770 — a gap of $16,415 a year, or $65,660 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or DeVry University-Illinois graduates earn more?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates report a median $81,054 ten years after entry, $35,067 more than the $45,987 at DeVry University-Illinois. 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, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or DeVry University-Illinois?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $24,807 at DeVry University-Illinois, a difference of $5,307. 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 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, against 37% at DeVry University-Illinois. 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.