Head-to-head comparison
Eastern Illinois University vs Olivet Nazarene University: which has better ROI?
Option A Charleston, IL
Eastern Illinois University
- Net price / year
- $12,786
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,989
- Payback
- 14.1 yrs
Option B Bourbonnais, IL
Olivet Nazarene University
- Net price / year
- $20,729
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,213
- Payback
- 17.1 yrs
Eastern Illinois University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $51,144 in 14.1 years versus 17.1 years at Olivet Nazarene University, on median earnings of $51,989 vs $53,213 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Illinois University | Olivet Nazarene University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,786 | $20,729 |
| Total net cost | $51,144 | $82,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,989 | $53,213 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 14.1 yrs | 17.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $21,436 | $14,144 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Eastern Illinois University or Olivet Nazarene University?
Eastern Illinois University, at $12,786 a year after aid versus $20,729 — a gap of $7,943 a year, or $31,772 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 Eastern Illinois University or Olivet Nazarene University graduates earn more?
Olivet Nazarene University graduates report a median $53,213 ten years after entry, $1,224 more than the $51,989 at Eastern Illinois 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, Eastern Illinois University or Olivet Nazarene University?
Eastern Illinois University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Olivet Nazarene University, a difference of $3,500. 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?
61% of students finish at Olivet Nazarene University, against 47% at Eastern Illinois 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.