Head-to-head comparison
University of Illinois Chicago vs Loyola University Chicago: which has better ROI?
Option A Chicago, IL
University of Illinois Chicago
- Net price / year
- $10,974
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,740
- Payback
- 2.2 yrs
Option B Chicago, IL
Loyola University Chicago
- Net price / year
- $36,079
- Earnings, 10 years
- $71,530
- Payback
- 6.2 yrs
University of Illinois Chicago has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $43,896 in 2.2 years versus 6.2 years at Loyola University Chicago, on median earnings of $68,740 vs $71,530 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Chicago | Loyola University Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,974 | $36,079 |
| Total net cost | $43,896 | $144,316 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $68,740 | $71,530 |
| Median debt | $16,704 | $24,157 |
| Payback | 2.2 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $363,704 | $319,084 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Chicago or Loyola University Chicago?
University of Illinois Chicago, at $10,974 a year after aid versus $36,079 — a gap of $25,105 a year, or $100,420 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 University of Illinois Chicago or Loyola University Chicago graduates earn more?
Loyola University Chicago graduates report a median $71,530 ten years after entry, $2,790 more than the $68,740 at University of Illinois Chicago. 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, University of Illinois Chicago or Loyola University Chicago?
University of Illinois Chicago: its completers carry a median $16,704 in federal loans versus $24,157 at Loyola University Chicago, a difference of $7,453. 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?
73% of students finish at Loyola University Chicago, against 62% at University of Illinois Chicago. 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.