Head-to-head comparison
Saint Xavier University vs Illinois Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
Saint Xavier University
- Net price / year
- $10,970
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,656
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
Option B Bloomington, IL
Illinois Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $28,199
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,871
- Payback
- 5 yrs
Saint Xavier University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $43,880 in 4.3 years versus 5 years at Illinois Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $58,656 vs $70,871 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Xavier University | Illinois Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,970 | $28,199 |
| Total net cost | $43,880 | $112,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,656 | $70,871 |
| Median debt | $22,223 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $162,040 | $337,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Xavier University or Illinois Wesleyan University?
Saint Xavier University, at $10,970 a year after aid versus $28,199 — a gap of $17,229 a year, or $68,916 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 Saint Xavier University or Illinois Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Illinois Wesleyan University graduates report a median $70,871 ten years after entry, $12,215 more than the $58,656 at Saint Xavier 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, Saint Xavier University or Illinois Wesleyan University?
Saint Xavier University: its completers carry a median $22,223 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Illinois Wesleyan University, a difference of $4,777. 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?
75% of students finish at Illinois Wesleyan University, against 57% at Saint Xavier 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.