Eureka College
Eureka, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 85.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 43/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Eureka College, a small private liberal arts school in central Illinois (President Reagan's alma mater), scores 43 out of 100, placing it at the top of the Poor Value tier and within striking distance of Mid Value. The picture here is mixed but more nuanced than most schools at this score. Net price is $17,349 against a $29,096 sticker - a meaningful 40% institutional discount. The 12.6-year payback period is notably better than peer privates, and median earnings 10 years after entry climb to $51,641 from $33,200 at year six, indicating real career-stage progression. The 77.1% three-year repayment rate is strong, suggesting the borrowers who do leave with debt are managing it. The drag on the score is the 41.6% completion rate (low by any standard) and a 0.7 debt-to-earnings ratio that pushes graduates close to the income-driven repayment threshold. Median federal debt is $23,250. With only 522 students, the financial sustainability of small Midwest private colleges is a real consideration, but Eureka's persistence-into-repayment numbers suggest its graduates are landing on their feet.
The data raises concerns about Eureka College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score43/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Eureka College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,096/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,096/yr |
| Average net price | $17,349/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $69,396 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,641 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 522 |
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: $29,096/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,349/year, or roughly $69,396 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 $13,711/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,482/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,250 in federal loans, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $51,641 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.70, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $13,711 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,527 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,602 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,458 |
| $110,001+ | $23,482 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 pay $13,711 net price - the lowest tier and a meaningful Pell-eligible discount. With $51,641 in 10-year median earnings and $23,250 in median debt, the math is workable if the student finishes. The challenge is the 41.6% completion rate; low-income students need a clear academic plan and persistence support to convert this price advantage into a credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $14,527 and $48,001-$75,000 pays $14,602, both nearly identical. This is a competitive private price for middle-income families - cheaper than University of Illinois flagship in-state tuition for many. The combination of small classes, modest debt, and reasonable career outcomes makes Eureka a defensible choice for middle-income Illinois families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $21,458 and the $110,001+ bracket pays $23,482. Higher-income families pay roughly $7,000-$10,000 more per year than lower-income peers. At $23,482 the price is still below sticker but high enough that families should weigh it carefully against in-state Illinois publics. The aid model rewards lower incomes appropriately.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Eureka College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,983 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,845 | C |
| Teacher Education | $44,805 | C |
| Psychology | $51,353 | C+ |
| Accounting | $64,726 | - |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
The largest program with 28 graduates earns a C grade. First-year earnings of $38,937 climb meaningfully to $57,983 by year four, against $26,000 median debt and a 0.668 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year earnings progression is the strongest signal here; students are landing into real career-track roles. Outcomes are competitive with regional Illinois publics on a similar net-price basis.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Twenty-two graduates earn a C grade. First-year earnings of $37,886 climb to $52,845 by year four with $26,475 median debt and a 0.699 ratio. Better than most criminal justice programs we have profiled, where the typical pattern is F-grade ratios above 1.0. The career progression suggests Eureka graduates are landing into law enforcement and corrections leadership tracks rather than just entry-level patrol roles.
Teacher Education
Sixteen graduates earn a C grade. First-year earnings of $43,609 are flat at $44,805 by year four, reflecting the predictable Illinois teacher salary schedule. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.619 ratio, which is workable. Public school teaching is structurally low-progression on earnings; the C grade is honest about that and the debt level makes it manageable through TEACH grants and forgiveness.
Psychology
Ten graduates earn the program's best grade (C+). Four-year earnings of $51,353 against $27,000 median debt produce a 0.526 ratio. Psychology terminal-bachelor's earnings nationally underperform; Eureka's graduates appear to land into HR, social services, and case-management roles at decent rates. Students planning graduate school in clinical psychology should still budget for substantial additional borrowing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Eureka College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 85.0% |
| Enrollment | 522 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,632 |
Eureka admits 85% of applicants, making it broadly accessible. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with test-optional small private practice. The 41.6% completion rate is the relevant fit signal: students who arrive academically prepared can find small classes (the 522-student enrollment is one of the smallest in our dataset), but persistence is uneven. Students with 3.0+ GPAs and clear major intent should expect better-than-average outcomes against the institutional median.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Eureka's peer set is unusually mixed. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is in the same state but represents a vastly different specialty-arts model. Augustana College is a comparable Illinois private liberal arts school but generally posts stronger completion and earnings outcomes at a higher price point. Rabbinical College Bobover, College of Biblical Studies Houston, and Pillar College are all very small religious institutions sharing only the small-enrollment characteristic. Among true peer Illinois private liberal arts colleges, Eureka's net price is competitive and its 12.6-year payback beats most.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka College (this school) | 43 | $17,349 | $51,641 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Pillar College | 47 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 43 | $672 | $39,260 |
| Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion | 41 | $9,136 | $20,707 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Eureka enrolls 522 students with a 49% Pell rate. The fit is clearest for first-generation Illinois students looking for a small-college experience under $20,000 net annual cost, students recruited for athletics or pre-professional pipelines (education, business, criminal justice), or students who specifically value the historic small-college campus environment. With a 41.6% completion rate, students less certain of their academic trajectory should consider a community college transfer route through Illinois Central or Heartland CC at a fraction of the cost.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Eureka College are a real concern. With a net cost of $17,349 per year and the typical graduate earning only $51,641 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: its 41.6% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $23,250 against $51,641 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.