Head-to-head comparison
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville vs Aurora University: which has better ROI?
Option A Edwardsville, IL
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Net price / year
- $14,889
- Earnings, 10 years
- $56,346
- Payback
- 7.5 yrs
Option B Aurora, IL
Aurora University
- Net price / year
- $18,838
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,709
- Payback
- 7.3 yrs
Aurora University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $75,352 in 7.3 years versus 7.5 years at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, on median earnings of $58,709 vs $56,346 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | Aurora University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,889 | $18,838 |
| Total net cost | $59,556 | $75,352 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,346 | $58,709 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $20,318 |
| Payback | 7.5 yrs | 7.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $100,164 | $131,628 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville or Aurora University?
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, at $14,889 a year after aid versus $18,838 — a gap of $3,949 a year, or $15,796 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville or Aurora University graduates earn more?
Aurora University graduates report a median $58,709 ten years after entry, $2,363 more than the $56,346 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 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, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville or Aurora University?
Aurora University: its completers carry a median $20,318 in federal loans versus $20,500 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a difference of $182. 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?
60% of students finish at Aurora University, against 57% at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. 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.