Head-to-head comparison
Eastern Illinois University vs Rockford 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 Rockford, IL
Rockford University
- Net price / year
- $22,436
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,794
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Rockford University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,744 in 13.9 years versus 14.1 years at Eastern Illinois University, on median earnings of $54,794 vs $51,989 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Eastern Illinois University | Rockford University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,786 | $22,436 |
| Total net cost | $51,144 | $89,744 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,989 | $54,794 |
| Median debt | $21,500 | $22,274 |
| Payback | 14.1 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $21,436 | $38,936 |
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 Rockford University?
Eastern Illinois University, at $12,786 a year after aid versus $22,436 — a gap of $9,650 a year, or $38,600 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 Rockford University graduates earn more?
Rockford University graduates report a median $54,794 ten years after entry, $2,805 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 Rockford University?
Eastern Illinois University: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $22,274 at Rockford University, a difference of $774. 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?
47% of students finish at Eastern Illinois University, against 47% at Rockford 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.