10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$40,494at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · 78 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 77 · Federal debt reported for 47
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Positive payoff
+$40,494 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
8.5 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
+18%Estimated return after 10 years
$71,439Observed earnings · year 5
$21,098Highest annual price before payoff reaches $0
The price benchmark is $10,124 per year below this threshold.
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $14,400 housing and food allowance plus $6,026 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$84,390
$8,000Annual price+$52,390
$11,000Current college-wide context+$40,390
$16,000Annual price+$20,390
$24,000Annual price−$11,610
$32,000Annual price−$43,610
$40,000Annual price−$75,610
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
153 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Illinois run 0% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$10,974Average net price / year
$27,521Cost of attendance
$16,704Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$177/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$71,439Median earnings · year 5 after completion
61.6%Completion rate
77.3%Admission rate
1,250Average SAT score
27ACT midpoint
22,170Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University of Illinois Chicago
What does University of Illinois Chicago cost?
University of Illinois Chicago reports an average annual net price of $10,974 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of Illinois Chicago graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $71,439 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of Illinois Chicago graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $16,704. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of Illinois Chicago worth the same?
No. The current release contains 78 field-and-degree records for University of Illinois Chicago; 77 report year-4 earnings and 47 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
37,059Students enrolled at any point
24,348Undergraduate students
12,711Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
67% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
1,552 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
70% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$66,641Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$69,281Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$71,861Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income63%
Middle income70%
Higher income75%
Undergraduate student composition
White22%
Black8%
Hispanic36%
Asian21%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Computer Programming.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 11
$205,736Year 1
$273,897Year 5
$246,515Year 10
Computer Programming.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$95,885Year 1
$149,092Year 5
$219,424Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Doctoral, professional practice · Broad federal field 51
$76,585Year 1
$145,698Year 5
$209,950Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 14
$102,325Year 1
$135,472Year 5
$164,346Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 14
$78,931Year 1
$111,641Year 5
$143,489Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$84,610Year 1
$104,790Year 5
$142,394Year 10
Applied Mathematics.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 27
$96,791Year 1
$116,180Year 5
$141,822Year 10
Applied Mathematics.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 27
$64,402Year 1
$120,518Year 5
$140,814Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$47,662Year 1
$72,839Year 4
$71,439Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences · Graduate/Professional Certificate$286,0712Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences · Master's Degree$281,5463Computer Science · Master's Degree$145,4304Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · First Professional Degree$143,8535Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · First Professional Degree$126,4426Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods · Master's Degree$125,0947Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$120,4708Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$118,750Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral SciencesGraduate/Professional Certificate · $286,071 reported+38%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree · $64,100 reported+35%vs same-degree national median$16,750federal debt3Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and ResearchMaster's Degree · $87,792 reported+33%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMaster's Degree · $115,859 reported+29%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt5Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree · $63,233 reported+23%vs same-degree national median$17,125federal debt6Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral SciencesMaster's Degree · $281,546 reported+19%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt
Comparable colleges in IL
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Springfield, IL
University of Illinois Springfield
- Annual net price
- $9,833
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,698
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -19%
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Annual net price
- $14,355
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $78,662
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +42%
Northern Illinois University
- Annual net price
- $13,391
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $61,432
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -30%
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Annual net price
- $14,889
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $61,499
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -31%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 78 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | Graduate/Professional Certificate | $286,071 | Not available | Not reported |
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | Master's Degree | $281,546 | Not available | 23 |
| Computer Science | Master's Degree | $145,430 | Not available | Not reported |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | First Professional Degree | $143,853 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | First Professional Degree | $126,442 | Not available | Not reported |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Master's Degree | $125,094 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $120,470 | $19,087 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $118,750 | Not available | Not reported |
| Medicine | First Professional Degree | $116,861 | Not available | Not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Master's Degree | $115,859 | Not available | 0 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | Master's Degree | $111,159 | Not available | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Doctoral Degree | $109,281 | Not available | 13 |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $102,691 | $22,000 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $97,613 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $96,323 | Not available | Not reported |
| Law | Doctoral Degree | $95,603 | Not available | 277 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $92,002 | $23,500 | Not reported |
| Public Health | Master's Degree | $89,402 | Not available | Not reported |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Master's Degree | $87,792 | Not available | Not reported |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $87,407 | $23,875 | Not reported |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $87,393 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $87,384 | $21,500 | Not reported |
| Medical Illustration and Informatics | Master's Degree | $87,209 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $87,037 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Master's Degree | $86,593 | Not available | Not reported |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $86,202 | $22,247 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $86,088 | $18,750 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $83,680 | $24,382 | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $83,218 | $17,625 | Not reported |
| Information Science/Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $81,180 | $14,538 | Not reported |
| Public Administration | Master's Degree | $81,041 | Not available | Not reported |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | First Professional Degree | $79,753 | Not available | Not reported |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $77,321 | $19,750 | Not reported |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Master's Degree | $76,807 | Not available | Not reported |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | Master's Degree | $76,505 | Not available | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Master's Degree | $74,462 | Not available | Not reported |
| Special Education and Teaching | Master's Degree | $74,270 | Not available | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Master's Degree | $72,253 | Not available | 0 |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $71,293 | $18,750 | Not reported |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Master's Degree | $68,854 | Not available | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Search every University of Illinois Chicago program record →Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.