Head-to-head comparison
Aurora University vs Elmhurst University: 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 Elmhurst, IL
Elmhurst University
- Net price / year
- $24,185
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,462
- Payback
- 7.4 yrs
Aurora University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,352 in 7.3 years versus 7.4 years at Elmhurst University, on median earnings of $58,709 vs $61,462 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aurora University | Elmhurst University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,838 | $24,185 |
| Total net cost | $75,352 | $96,740 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,709 | $61,462 |
| Median debt | $20,318 | $20,489 |
| Payback | 7.3 yrs | 7.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $131,628 | $165,300 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Aurora University or Elmhurst University?
Aurora University, at $18,838 a year after aid versus $24,185 — a gap of $5,347 a year, or $21,388 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 Elmhurst University graduates earn more?
Elmhurst University graduates report a median $61,462 ten years after entry, $2,753 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 Elmhurst University?
Aurora University: its completers carry a median $20,318 in federal loans versus $20,489 at Elmhurst University, a difference of $171. 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?
70% of students finish at Elmhurst University, 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.