Head-to-head comparison
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs Northwestern University: 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 Evanston, IL
Northwestern University
- Net price / year
- $29,167
- Earnings, 10 years
- $89,363
- Payback
- 2.8 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 2.8 years at Northwestern University, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $89,363 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Northwestern University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $29,167 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $116,668 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $89,363 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $15,000 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 2.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | $703,392 |
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 Northwestern University?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, at $14,355 a year after aid versus $29,167 — a gap of $14,812 a year, or $59,248 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 Northwestern University graduates earn more?
Northwestern University graduates report a median $89,363 ten years after entry, $8,309 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 Northwestern University?
Northwestern University: its completers carry a median $15,000 in federal loans versus $19,500 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a difference of $4,500. 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?
95% of students finish at Northwestern University, against 85% at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. 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.