University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of St Francis: 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 3.3 years at University of St Francis, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $63,926 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | University of St Francis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $13,006 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $52,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $63,926 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,079 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | $259,296 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or University of St Francis?
University of St Francis, at $13,006 a year after aid versus $14,355 — a gap of $1,349 a year, or $5,396 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 University of St Francis graduates earn more?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates report a median $81,054 ten years after entry, $17,128 more than the $63,926 at University of St Francis. 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 University of St Francis?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,079 at University of St Francis, a difference of $1,579. 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 67% at University of St Francis. 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.