University of Illinois Chicago — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Illinois Chicago charges a net price of $10,974/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $43,896. Graduates earn a median $68,740 ten years after entry, $20,380/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.2 years — a 20-year net return of $363,704, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Illinois Chicago's 2.2-year payback ranks #91 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 93% of them, and #3 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,974/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $43,896 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $68,740 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $20,380/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $16,704 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $363,704 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.