Head-to-head comparison
Aurora University vs Augustana College: which has better ROI?
Option A Aurora, IL
Aurora University
- Net price / year
- $18,838
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,709
- Payback
- 7.3 yrs
Option B Rock Island, IL
Augustana College
- Net price / year
- $22,736
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,971
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Augustana College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $90,944 in 6.2 years versus 7.3 years at Aurora University, on median earnings of $62,971 vs $58,709 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aurora University | Augustana College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,838 | $22,736 |
| Total net cost | $75,352 | $90,944 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,709 | $62,971 |
| Median debt | $20,318 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $131,628 | $201,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aurora University or Augustana College?
Aurora University, at $18,838 a year after aid versus $22,736 — a gap of $3,898 a year, or $15,592 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Aurora University or Augustana College graduates earn more?
Augustana College graduates report a median $62,971 ten years after entry, $4,262 more than the $58,709 at Aurora 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Aurora University or Augustana College?
Aurora University: its completers carry a median $20,318 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Augustana College, a difference of $6,682. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Augustana College, against 60% at Aurora 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.