Head-to-head comparison
Illinois College vs Eureka College: which has better ROI?
Option A Jacksonville, IL
Illinois College
- Net price / year
- $18,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,575
- Payback
- 17.4 yrs
Option B Eureka, IL
Eureka College
- Net price / year
- $17,349
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,641
- Payback
- 21.2 yrs
Illinois College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,192 in 17.4 years versus 21.2 years at Eureka College, on median earnings of $52,575 vs $51,641 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Illinois College | Eureka College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $18,298 | $17,349 |
| Total net cost | $73,192 | $69,396 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,575 | $51,641 |
| Median debt | $25,565 | $23,250 |
| Payback | 17.4 yrs | 21.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $11,108 | -$3,776 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Illinois College or Eureka College?
Eureka College, at $17,349 a year after aid versus $18,298 — a gap of $949 a year, or $3,796 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 Illinois College or Eureka College graduates earn more?
Illinois College graduates report a median $52,575 ten years after entry, $934 more than the $51,641 at Eureka 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, Illinois College or Eureka College?
Eureka College: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,565 at Illinois College, a difference of $2,315. 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?
64% of students finish at Illinois College, against 42% at Eureka College. 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.