Head-to-head comparison
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of Illinois Chicago: 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
University of Illinois Chicago
- Net price / year
- $10,974
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,740
- 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 University of Illinois Chicago, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $68,740 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | University of Illinois Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $10,974 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $43,896 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $68,740 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $16,704 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | $363,704 |
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 University of Illinois Chicago?
University of Illinois Chicago, at $10,974 a year after aid versus $14,355 — a gap of $3,381 a year, or $13,524 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 University of Illinois Chicago graduates earn more?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates report a median $81,054 ten years after entry, $12,314 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 Urbana-Champaign or University of Illinois Chicago?
University of Illinois Chicago: its completers carry a median $16,704 in federal loans versus $19,500 at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a difference of $2,796. 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 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.