10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$99,200at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · 108 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 105 · Federal debt reported for 72
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Positive payoff
+$99,200 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
7.1 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
+42%Estimated return after 10 years
$78,662Observed earnings · year 5
$39,155Highest annual price before payoff reaches $0
The price benchmark is $24,800 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.
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+$156,620
$12,000Annual price+$108,620
$14,000Current college-wide context+$100,620
$24,000Annual price+$60,620
$36,000Annual price+$12,620
$48,000Annual price−$35,380
$60,000Annual price−$83,380
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Most students take at least some classes online.
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
- Land-grant institution
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
186 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
$14,355Average net price / year
$33,642Cost of attendance
$19,500Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$207/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$78,662Median earnings · year 5 after completion
85.1%Completion rate
42.4%Admission rate
1,440Average SAT score
32ACT midpoint
36,258Student 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 Urbana-Champaign
What does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign cost?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign reports an average annual net price of $14,355 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $78,662 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $19,500. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign worth the same?
No. The current release contains 108 field-and-degree records for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; 105 report year-4 earnings and 72 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
65,238Students enrolled at any point
39,109Undergraduate students
26,129Graduate 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
79% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
4,081 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
74% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$76,079Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$78,605Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$84,774Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income69%
Middle income77%
Higher income84%
Undergraduate student composition
White38%
Black5%
Hispanic14%
Asian23%
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
$199,462Year 1
$243,212Year 5
$256,664Year 10
Computer Programming.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$146,136Year 1
$245,223Year 5
$240,377Year 10
Computer Programming.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$139,488Year 1
$219,514Year 5
$226,125Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 52
$212,009Year 1
$182,659Year 5
$219,068Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Doctoral, research/scholarship · Broad federal field 14
$111,768Year 1
$157,435Year 5
$179,631Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$96,308Year 1
$119,258Year 5
$162,999Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$75,361Year 1
$112,183Year 5
$159,097Year 10
Law.Doctoral, professional practice · Broad federal field 22
$87,210Year 1
$122,982Year 5
$156,159Year 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
$53,513Year 1
$79,628Year 4
$78,662Year 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.
1Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$181,9812Computer Science · Master's Degree$179,3953Physics · Doctoral Degree$163,0244Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$159,8555Mathematics and Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$155,5036Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$151,9077Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$146,9468Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Master's Degree$142,725Observed 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.
1Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree · $181,981 reported+70%vs same-degree national median$20,500federal debt2Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $146,946 reported+59%vs same-degree national median$19,399federal debt3Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree · $107,904 reported+58%vs same-degree national median$19,175federal debt4Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree · $151,907 reported+47%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt5Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree · $159,855 reported+47%vs same-degree national median$20,500federal debt6Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree · $119,978 reported+44%vs same-degree national median$19,500federal 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.
Chicago, IL
University of Illinois Chicago
- Annual net price
- $10,974
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $71,439
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +18%
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Annual net price
- $14,889
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $61,499
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -31%
Northern Illinois University
- Annual net price
- $13,391
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $61,432
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -30%
University of Illinois Springfield
- Annual net price
- $9,833
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,698
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -19%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $181,981 | $20,500 | 19 |
| Computer Science | Master's Degree | $179,395 | Not available | Not reported |
| Physics | Doctoral Degree | $163,024 | Not available | 54 |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $159,855 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $155,503 | $23,350 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $151,907 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's Degree | $146,946 | $19,399 | Not reported |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Master's Degree | $142,725 | Not available | Not reported |
| Veterinary Medicine | Doctoral Degree | $133,973 | Not available | 131 |
| Chemistry | Doctoral Degree | $131,278 | Not available | 42 |
| Law | Doctoral Degree | $130,428 | Not available | 153 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Master's Degree | $127,773 | Not available | Not reported |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Master's Degree | $125,843 | Not available | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $119,978 | $19,500 | 11 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $116,339 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Nuclear Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $116,047 | $21,350 | Not reported |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Master's Degree | $114,404 | Not available | Not reported |
| Food Science and Technology | Master's Degree | $111,860 | Not available | Not reported |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $111,783 | $21,600 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $107,904 | $19,175 | 463 |
| Systems Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $106,805 | $17,800 | Not reported |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Master's Degree | $106,780 | Not available | Not reported |
| Statistics | Bachelor's Degree | $105,978 | $19,394 | Not reported |
| Chemical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $104,317 | $22,850 | Not reported |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $104,172 | $21,000 | 23 |
| Civil Engineering | Master's Degree | $103,656 | Not available | Not reported |
| Industrial Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $103,143 | $22,330 | Not reported |
| Engineering Physics | Bachelor's Degree | $102,211 | $20,136 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $101,098 | $20,500 | 6 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $100,244 | Not available | Not reported |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | Doctoral Degree | $99,311 | Not available | 25 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Master's Degree | $98,771 | Not available | Not reported |
| Plant Sciences | Master's Degree | $97,965 | Not available | Not reported |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $97,926 | $16,850 | Not reported |
| Materials Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $97,924 | $17,916 | Not reported |
| Engineering-Related Fields | Master's Degree | $97,705 | Not available | Not reported |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $97,276 | $23,951 | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $95,329 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Civil Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $91,650 | $19,054 | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $90,744 | $20,000 | 74 |
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 Urbana-Champaign 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.