University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Illinois State University: 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 5.6 years at Illinois State University, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $62,117 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $19,398 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $77,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $62,117 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $20,482 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | $197,548 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Illinois State University?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, at $14,355 a year after aid versus $19,398 — a gap of $5,043 a year, or $20,172 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 Illinois State University graduates earn more?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates report a median $81,054 ten years after entry, $18,937 more than the $62,117 at Illinois State 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, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Illinois State University?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $20,482 at Illinois State University, a difference of $982. 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 65% at Illinois State 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.