Head-to-head comparison
DePaul University vs Augustana College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
DePaul University
- Net price / year
- $30,902
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,751
- Payback
- 6.1 yrs
Option B Rock Island, IL
Augustana College
- Net price / year
- $22,736
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,971
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
DePaul University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $123,608 in 6.1 years versus 6.2 years at Augustana College, on median earnings of $68,751 vs $62,971 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | DePaul University | Augustana College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,902 | $22,736 |
| Total net cost | $123,608 | $90,944 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,751 | $62,971 |
| Median debt | $23,168 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $284,212 | $201,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, DePaul University or Augustana College?
Augustana College, at $22,736 a year after aid versus $30,902 — a gap of $8,166 a year, or $32,664 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 DePaul University or Augustana College graduates earn more?
DePaul University graduates report a median $68,751 ten years after entry, $5,780 more than the $62,971 at Augustana College. 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, DePaul University or Augustana College?
DePaul University: its completers carry a median $23,168 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Augustana College, a difference of $3,832. 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 68% at DePaul 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.