Head-to-head comparison
DePaul University vs University of Chicago: 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 Chicago, IL
University of Chicago
- Net price / year
- $14,860
- Earnings, 10 years
- $91,885
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
University of Chicago has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,440 in 1.4 years versus 6.1 years at DePaul University, on median earnings of $91,885 vs $68,751 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | DePaul University | University of Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,902 | $14,860 |
| Total net cost | $123,608 | $59,440 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,751 | $91,885 |
| Median debt | $23,168 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 6.1 yrs | 1.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $284,212 | $811,060 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, DePaul University or University of Chicago?
University of Chicago, at $14,860 a year after aid versus $30,902 — a gap of $16,042 a year, or $64,168 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 University of Chicago graduates earn more?
University of Chicago graduates report a median $91,885 ten years after entry, $23,134 more than the $68,751 at DePaul 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, DePaul University or University of Chicago?
University of Chicago: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $23,168 at DePaul University, a difference of $8,168. 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?
96% of students finish at University of Chicago, 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.