Head-to-head comparison
University of Illinois Springfield vs Illinois Wesleyan University: which has better ROI?
Option A Springfield, IL
University of Illinois Springfield
- Net price / year
- $9,833
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,103
- Payback
- 4.5 yrs
Option B Bloomington, IL
Illinois Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $28,199
- Earnings, 10 years
- $70,871
- Payback
- 5 yrs
University of Illinois Springfield has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $39,332 in 4.5 years versus 5 years at Illinois Wesleyan University, on median earnings of $57,103 vs $70,871 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Springfield | Illinois Wesleyan University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,833 | $28,199 |
| Total net cost | $39,332 | $112,796 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,103 | $70,871 |
| Median debt | $19,128 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $135,528 | $337,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Springfield or Illinois Wesleyan University?
University of Illinois Springfield, at $9,833 a year after aid versus $28,199 — a gap of $18,366 a year, or $73,464 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 Springfield or Illinois Wesleyan University graduates earn more?
Illinois Wesleyan University graduates report a median $70,871 ten years after entry, $13,768 more than the $57,103 at University of Illinois Springfield. 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 Springfield or Illinois Wesleyan University?
University of Illinois Springfield: its completers carry a median $19,128 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Illinois Wesleyan University, a difference of $7,872. 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 53% at University of Illinois Springfield. 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.