Elmhurst University
Elmhurst, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 73.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Elmhurst University posts an overall ROI score of 68 out of 100, putting it in the Fair Value tier. The score is driven by a solid 70% completion rate, earnings of $42,700 six years after enrollment (rising to $61,462 by year 10), and a manageable median debt of $20,489 - which translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 and a payback period under nine years. Sticker tuition is $42,955, but the average net price drops to $24,185 thanks to meaningful institutional aid, which is the central economic story here: list price says private-college expensive, actual price says private-college reasonable. The 76.8% three-year repayment rate is solid, indicating most borrowers are paying down principal. Sub-score weaknesses cluster around earnings premium (60/100) and repayment rate, which keep this from being a Strong Value rating. For students who complete one of the high-ROI programs (nursing, accounting, finance, communication disorders), Elmhurst delivers the kind of ROI that justifies the private-college tag.
Elmhurst University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $42,955/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,955/yr |
| Average net price | $24,185/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $96,740 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,462 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,489 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,006 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $42,955/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,185/year, or roughly $96,740 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,892/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,232/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,489, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,700) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,892 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,377 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,098 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,419 |
| $110,001+ | $30,232 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay a net price of $17,892 per year - about $6,300 below the listed average net price and significantly less than the $42,955 sticker. Pell grants plus institutional need-based aid absorb the bulk of cost. Over four years that is roughly $72,000 against average graduate earnings of $42,700. The math works, especially for nursing and accounting tracks.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $18,377, and the $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $23,098 - both well below sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $30,232, the published top-bracket rate. That is real money - roughly $121,000 over four years - but still below sticker.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Elmhurst University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,372 | B+ |
| Psychology | $52,264 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $76,678 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $76,433 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $52,106 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $56,411 | C |
| Biology | $60,161 | D |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $60,158 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $66,244 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,480 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
First-year median earnings of $73,820 climb to $79,372 by year four, with median debt of $25,000 producing a 0.339 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. This is the single best argument for choosing Elmhurst: graduates enter Chicago-area hospitals with strong NCLEX pass rates and command competitive starting wages. The program is also the principal driver of Elmhurst's overall Fair Value tier rating.
Accounting
Accounting is a sleeper high-ROI program with 17 graduates, $59,734 first-year earnings climbing to $79,654 by year four, and median debt of just $18,125. The 0.303 debt-to-earnings ratio is among the school's strongest, earning a B+ grade. Graduates pipeline into Big Four firms, Chicago corporate accounting departments, and CPA tracks. For students who can handle the major, this is a high-leverage choice on the menu.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates 42 students per year with $57,171 first-year earnings rising to $76,433 in year four and median debt of $18,250 - a 0.319 ratio earning a B+ grade. Chicago's financial services labor market (banking, insurance, asset management) absorbs Elmhurst grads at reasonable starting wages. The program rivals Accounting as the highest-ROI non-nursing track.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 84 students annually with $49,771 first-year earnings rising to $76,678 by year four. Median debt of $19,750 produces a 0.397 ratio and a B grade - solid, though not as strong as the specialized business majors. This is the high-volume default for business-minded students; the more selective specializations (accounting, finance) deliver materially better outcomes for the same investment.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 88 students - the second-largest cohort - with first-year earnings of just $32,553 climbing to $52,264 by year four. Median debt of $23,000 against year-one wages produces a 0.707 ratio and a D ROI grade. Like most psychology programs, ROI improves materially with graduate study, but the undergraduate-only path delivers weak returns. Students who are unsure of post-graduate plans should weigh this carefully.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Elmhurst University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-30 |
| Enrollment | 3,006 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,989 |
Elmhurst's admission rate is 73.6%, with SAT mid-ranges of 480-620 math and 510-640 reading, and ACT composite mid-range of 23-30. The school is moderately selective - not a reach, but it does screen for academic preparation. The relatively wide ACT band (23-30) suggests Elmhurst admits both solidly average students and high achievers chasing institutional merit aid. The 70% completion rate aligns with this selectivity level: students arrive prepared enough to finish at meaningfully higher rates than open-enrollment regional schools.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmhurst University (this school) | 68 | $24,185 | $61,462 |
| University of La Verne | 70 | $20,161 | $65,464 |
| York College of Pennsylvania | 68 | $18,556 | $61,012 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | 67 | $18,462 | $59,871 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment of 3,006 with a 36.8% Pell rate signals a school that serves a meaningful share of low-to-moderate-income students while pulling significantly from the comfortable suburban Chicago middle class. The 70% completion rate is well above regional averages. Strong fit: students targeting nursing, accounting, finance, or communication disorders - the four B+ ROI programs. Weak fit: humanities and arts majors who will face the same debt loads against materially lower earnings.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Elmhurst University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $24,185 a year after aid ($96,740 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,462 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 70.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $20,489 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Elmhurst University: Common Questions
Is Elmhurst University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Elmhurst University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,185 a year after aid ($96,740 over four years) against $61,462 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Elmhurst University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,185 a year, or roughly $96,740 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Elmhurst University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,462 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,662 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Elmhurst University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.9 years for Elmhurst University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Elmhurst University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,489, against average earnings of $42,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Elmhurst University?
The six-year graduation rate is 70.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.