Head-to-head comparison
Northeastern Illinois University vs Illinois College: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
Northeastern Illinois University
- Net price / year
- $14,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,234
- Payback
- 14.6 yrs
Option B Jacksonville, IL
Illinois College
- Net price / year
- $18,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,575
- Payback
- 17.4 yrs
Northeastern Illinois University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $56,436 in 14.6 years versus 17.4 years at Illinois College, on median earnings of $52,234 vs $52,575 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northeastern Illinois University | Illinois College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,109 | $18,298 |
| Total net cost | $56,436 | $73,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,234 | $52,575 |
| Median debt | $14,600 | $25,565 |
| Payback | 14.6 yrs | 17.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $21,044 | $11,108 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northeastern Illinois University or Illinois College?
Northeastern Illinois University, at $14,109 a year after aid versus $18,298 — a gap of $4,189 a year, or $16,756 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 Northeastern Illinois University or Illinois College graduates earn more?
Illinois College graduates report a median $52,575 ten years after entry, $341 more than the $52,234 at Northeastern 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, Northeastern Illinois University or Illinois College?
Northeastern Illinois University: its completers carry a median $14,600 in federal loans versus $25,565 at Illinois College, a difference of $10,965. 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 22% at Northeastern Illinois 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.