Head-to-head comparison
Loyola University Chicago vs Augustana College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
Loyola University Chicago
- Net price / year
- $36,079
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,530
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Option B Rock Island, IL
Augustana College
- Net price / year
- $22,736
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,971
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
Loyola University Chicago has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $144,316 in 6.2 years versus 6.2 years at Augustana College, on median earnings of $71,530 vs $62,971 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Loyola University Chicago | Augustana College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,079 | $22,736 |
| Total net cost | $144,316 | $90,944 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,530 | $62,971 |
| Median debt | $24,157 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $319,084 | $201,276 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Loyola University Chicago or Augustana College?
Augustana College, at $22,736 a year after aid versus $36,079 — a gap of $13,343 a year, or $53,372 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 Loyola University Chicago or Augustana College graduates earn more?
Loyola University Chicago graduates report a median $71,530 ten years after entry, $8,559 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, Loyola University Chicago or Augustana College?
Loyola University Chicago: its completers carry a median $24,157 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Augustana College, a difference of $2,843. 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 Loyola University Chicago, against 73% at Augustana 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.