Head-to-head comparison
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Illinois Institute of Technology: which has better ROI?
Option A Champaign, IL
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Net price / year
- $14,355
- Earnings, 10 years
- $81,054
- Payback
- 1.8 yrs
Option B Chicago, IL
Illinois Institute of Technology
- Net price / year
- $18,425
- Earnings, 10 years
- $82,592
- Payback
- 2.2 yrs
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,420 in 1.8 years versus 2.2 years at Illinois Institute of Technology, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $82,592 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois Institute of Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $18,425 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $73,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $82,592 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | $610,940 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign or Illinois Institute of Technology?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, at $14,355 a year after aid versus $18,425 — a gap of $4,070 a year, or $16,280 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 Urbana-Champaign or Illinois Institute of Technology graduates earn more?
Illinois Institute of Technology graduates report a median $82,592 ten years after entry, $1,538 more than the $81,054 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 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 Urbana-Champaign or Illinois Institute of Technology?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Illinois Institute of Technology, a difference of $5,500. 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?
85% of students finish at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, against 75% at Illinois Institute of Technology. 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.