Head-to-head comparison
McKendree University vs Trinity Christian College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lebanon, IL
McKendree University
- Net price / year
- $24,717
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,572
- Payback
- 9.7 yrs
Option B Palos Heights, IL
Trinity Christian College
- Net price / year
- $19,125
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,700
- Payback
- 10.4 yrs
McKendree University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $98,868 in 9.7 years versus 10.4 years at Trinity Christian College, on median earnings of $58,572 vs $55,700 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | McKendree University | Trinity Christian College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,717 | $19,125 |
| Total net cost | $98,868 | $76,500 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,572 | $55,700 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $25,009 |
| Payback | 9.7 yrs | 10.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $105,372 | $70,300 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, McKendree University or Trinity Christian College?
Trinity Christian College, at $19,125 a year after aid versus $24,717 — a gap of $5,592 a year, or $22,368 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 McKendree University or Trinity Christian College graduates earn more?
McKendree University graduates report a median $58,572 ten years after entry, $2,872 more than the $55,700 at Trinity Christian 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, McKendree University or Trinity Christian College?
McKendree University: its completers carry a median $23,250 in federal loans versus $25,009 at Trinity Christian College, a difference of $1,759. 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?
58% of students finish at Trinity Christian College, against 53% at McKendree 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.