Head-to-head comparison
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign vs University of St Francis: 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 Joliet, IL
University of St Francis
- Net price / year
- $13,006
- Earnings, 10 years
- $63,926
- Payback
- 3.3 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 3.3 years at University of St Francis, on median earnings of $81,054 vs $63,926 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | University of St Francis |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,355 | $13,006 |
| Total net cost | $57,420 | $52,024 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $81,054 | $63,926 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,079 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | 3.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $596,460 | $259,296 |
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 St Francis?
University of St Francis, at $13,006 a year after aid versus $14,355 — a gap of $1,349 a year, or $5,396 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 St Francis graduates earn more?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates report a median $81,054 ten years after entry, $17,128 more than the $63,926 at University of St Francis. 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 St Francis?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,079 at University of St Francis, a difference of $1,579. 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 67% at University of St Francis. 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.