Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF

Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · 54 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff

−$129,828 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.

22.7 yrsModeled economic break-even
−56%Modeled 10-year ROI
$55,192Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$129,828at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$231,7480
2
4
6
8
−$129,82810
Years after graduationBreak-even: 22.7 years
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 in-state tuition$15,264
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$15,264
Sticker price
Average net price$12,937
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$28,254
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$12,937Average net price / year
$28,254Cost of attendance
$55,192Median earnings · year 5 after completion
45.2%Completion rate
71.2%Admission rate
4,410Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

73thEarnings percentile
31thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$41,243Year 1
$57,453Year 4
$55,192Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Educational Administration and Supervision · Doctoral Degree$159,8202Computer and Information Sciences, General · Bachelor's Degree$92,8243Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$87,1824Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$86,6945Construction Management · Bachelor's Degree$85,9746Educational Administration and Supervision · Master's Degree$85,3837Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$85,2218Criminal Justice and Corrections · Master's Degree$78,861

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

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.

Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Annual net price
$13,297
Observed earnings · year 5
$55,667
Modeled 10-year ROI
-54%
Open college profile →
University Park, IL

Governors State University

Annual net price
$12,329
Observed earnings · year 5
$55,584
Modeled 10-year ROI
-54%
Open college profile →
Chicago, IL

Northeastern Illinois University

Annual net price
$14,109
Observed earnings · year 5
$56,675
Modeled 10-year ROI
-51%
Open college profile →
Palatine, IL

William Rainey Harper College

Annual net price
$11,607
Observed earnings · year 5
$53,657
Modeled 10-year ROI
-62%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Educational Administration and SupervisionDoctoral Degree$159,820Not available
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$92,824$25,250
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$87,182Not available
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree$86,694$23,750
Construction ManagementBachelor's Degree$85,974$26,000
Educational Administration and SupervisionMaster's Degree$85,383Not available
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$85,221Not available
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsMaster's Degree$78,861Not available
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, GeneralBachelor's Degree$75,922$32,373
Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree$71,059$30,023
Human Resources Management and ServicesBachelor's Degree$70,157$26,000
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$70,021$27,000
Finance and Financial Management ServicesBachelor's Degree$69,716$27,000
Fire ProtectionBachelor's Degree$68,753$22,723
MarketingBachelor's Degree$68,306$29,592
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$68,249$27,000
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsBachelor's Degree$63,125$26,000
Educational/Instructional Media DesignMaster's Degree$63,099Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$60,627Not available
Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree$58,333$18,969
Biology, GeneralMaster's Degree$57,753Not available
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesMaster's Degree$56,934Not available
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesBachelor's Degree$56,771$39,688
Psychology, GeneralMaster's Degree$56,378Not available
English Language and Literature, GeneralMaster's Degree$55,987Not available
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$55,944$28,750
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsMaster's Degree$54,990Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessMaster's Degree$54,783Not available
Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition ServicesBachelor's Degree$54,394Not available
Social WorkBachelor's Degree$54,063$29,850
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, GeneralBachelor's Degree$54,059Not available
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$53,576$31,000
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree$53,453$29,875
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementMaster's Degree$52,028Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasBachelor's Degree$51,255Not available
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$51,203$30,000
Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree$51,103Not available
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$50,963$25,000
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$50,855$27,585
Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's Degree$50,751Not available
SociologyBachelor's Degree$50,080$30,478
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsBachelor's Degree$49,431Not available
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, OtherBachelor's Degree$48,039Not available
HistoryBachelor's Degree$47,084$31,250
Radio, Television, and Digital CommunicationBachelor's Degree$46,966$29,054
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Facilities ManagementBachelor's Degree$46,363$29,000
Special Education and TeachingBachelor's Degree$45,395$25,986
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$44,683$29,000
Museology/Museum StudiesMaster's Degree$43,387Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$43,279$25,133
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$41,984$23,750
MusicBachelor's Degree$39,609$30,000
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$35,703$27,000
Communication Disorders Sciences and ServicesBachelor's DegreeNot available$20,375

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.