Head-to-head comparison
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville vs North Central College: 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 Naperville, IL
North Central College
- Net price / year
- $21,044
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,123
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
North Central College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $84,176 in 7.2 years versus 7.5 years at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, on median earnings of $60,123 vs $56,346 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | North Central College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,889 | $21,044 |
| Total net cost | $59,556 | $84,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,346 | $60,123 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $24,500 |
| Payback | 7.5 yrs | 7.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $100,164 | $151,084 |
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 North Central College?
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, at $14,889 a year after aid versus $21,044 — a gap of $6,155 a year, or $24,620 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 North Central College graduates earn more?
North Central College graduates report a median $60,123 ten years after entry, $3,777 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 North Central College?
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $24,500 at North Central College, a difference of $4,000. 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 North Central College, 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.