Head-to-head comparison
National Louis University vs Chicago State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
National Louis University
- Net price / year
- $12,641
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,799
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Chicago, IL
Chicago State University
- Net price / year
- $12,335
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,778
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but National Louis University comes closer — median earnings $45,799 against a $50,564 total, vs $42,778 at Chicago State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | National Louis University | Chicago State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,641 | $12,335 |
| Total net cost | $50,564 | $49,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,799 | $42,778 |
| Median debt | $19,750 | $30,625 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$101,784 | -$160,980 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, National Louis University or Chicago State University?
Chicago State University, at $12,335 a year after aid versus $12,641 — a gap of $306 a year, or $1,224 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 National Louis University or Chicago State University graduates earn more?
National Louis University graduates report a median $45,799 ten years after entry, $3,021 more than the $42,778 at Chicago State 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, National Louis University or Chicago State University?
National Louis University: its completers carry a median $19,750 in federal loans versus $30,625 at Chicago State University, a difference of $10,875. 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?
30% of students finish at National Louis University, against 15% at Chicago State 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.