Head-to-head comparison
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc vs Illinois College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lisle, IL
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc
- Net price / year
- $27,060
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,873
- Payback
- 24 yrs
Option B Jacksonville, IL
Illinois College
- Net price / year
- $18,298
- Earnings, 10 years
- $52,575
- Payback
- 17.4 yrs
Illinois College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,192 in 17.4 years versus 24 years at Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc, on median earnings of $52,575 vs $52,873 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc | Illinois College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,060 | $18,298 |
| Total net cost | $108,240 | $73,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,873 | $52,575 |
| Median debt | $13,124 | $25,565 |
| Payback | 24 yrs | 17.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$17,980 | $11,108 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc or Illinois College?
Illinois College, at $18,298 a year after aid versus $27,060 — a gap of $8,762 a year, or $35,048 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 Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc or Illinois College graduates earn more?
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc graduates report a median $52,873 ten years after entry, $298 more than the $52,575 at Illinois College. 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, Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc or Illinois College?
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc: its completers carry a median $13,124 in federal loans versus $25,565 at Illinois College, a difference of $12,441. 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 63% at Universal Technical Institute of Illinois Inc. 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.