Judson University
Elgin, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 47.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Judson University, a small Christian liberal arts college in Elgin, Illinois (a Chicago northwest suburb), scores 58 on overall ROI (Below Average Value tier) - the upper edge of that tier. Tuition is $31,360, but Judson discounts heavily: average net price is $18,558 (~$74,232 over four years). Median earnings six years out are $38,000, climbing to $56,313 by year ten - decent middle-of-the-pack outcomes. The 10.1-year payback period is just over the standard benchmark, and the 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio is workable. Median debt is $25,000. Completion is 60% - one of the better numbers in our dataset and a meaningful relative strength. The 79% three-year repayment rate is solid. Judson's identity is Evangelical Christian higher education with a respected architecture program (rare for a college this size) and competent business and education tracks. The 0.29 earnings premium is real. For students drawn to the Christian-liberal-arts mission and willing to pay the moderate net premium over Illinois publics, the math pencils more cleanly than for most schools in this tier.
Judson University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $31,360/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,360/yr |
| Average net price | $18,558/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,232 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,313 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 708 |
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: $31,360/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 $18,558/year, or roughly $74,232 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 $15,701/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,515/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $56,313 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.66, 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 | $15,701 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,010 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,079 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,124 |
| $110,001+ | $21,515 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $15,701 net - the cheapest tier. With Pell, MAP grant, and Judson institutional aid, four-year cost runs about $63,000. Reasonable for a Christian-college experience with moderate post-graduation earnings. Compare carefully against Illinois publics like NIU and Eastern Illinois at materially lower in-state pricing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $18,010 (slightly above the next bracket - a small inversion). The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $17,079 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $21,124. Across the middle range, four-year cost is roughly $68,000-$84,000. Workable for middle-income families committed to the Christian-college fit, especially those targeting Architecture.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,001 pay $21,515 - effectively full-pay at roughly $86,000 over four years. For higher-income families, this remains in the affordable range for a private Christian college. Judson's Architecture program in particular is a defensible pick at this price; students targeting other majors might compare against Wheaton or other stronger Illinois Christian options.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Judson University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,153 | C |
| Architecture | $63,846 | C |
| Psychology | $46,816 | D |
| Human Services, General | $38,639 | D |
| Teacher Education | $45,830 | - |
| Design and Applied Arts | $37,466 | - |
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
Business Administration is Judson's largest program at 50 graduates with $45,731 first-year and $63,153 four-year median earnings against $27,000 median debt (0.59 debt-to-earnings) - a C ROI grade. Decent middle-of-the-road outcomes for a small Christian-college business degree feeding the Chicago northwest suburban corporate, finance, and operations pipelines. Workable value at Judson's net price.
Architecture
Architecture is Judson's signature program: 24 graduates per cohort produce $41,033 first-year and $63,846 four-year median earnings against $26,221 median debt (0.64 debt-to-earnings) - a C ROI grade. The B.Arch credential at this institutional scale is unusual and feeds Chicago architecture firms, sustainable design practices, and graduate M.Arch tracks. Long-term mid-career architect earnings climb meaningfully beyond what the early-career data shows.
Psychology
Psychology earns D ROI: $34,964 first-year and $46,816 four-year median earnings against $25,000 median debt produce a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio. 19 graduates per cohort. As with most psychology bachelor's programs nationally, real ROI requires graduate study; the bachelor's-only path at Judson's price is one of the weaker financial bets on campus.
Human Services, General
Human Services posts a D ROI: $37,671 first-year and $38,639 four-year median earnings against $34,455 median debt (the highest debt figure on Judson's profile) produce a 0.92 debt-to-earnings ratio. 9 graduates per cohort. The flat earnings curve indicates no meaningful mid-career progression in Human Services-bachelor-only roles, and the heavy debt makes this one of the harder financial bets on campus.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Judson 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 | 47.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 393-568 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 423-550 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-24 |
| Enrollment | 708 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,024 |
Judson admits 48% of applicants - moderately selective. SAT mid-ranges of 393-568 Math and 423-550 Reading, plus ACT 16-24, place enrolled students modestly below national medians but with significant variance. The 60% completion rate is consistent with the moderate selectivity and is materially better than most schools in our dataset - one of Judson's real strengths.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer set is uneven. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and Augustana College are stronger Illinois institutions and not direct peers. Pacific Union College (CA), Bryan College Dayton (TN), and Heritage University (WA) are similar-scale Christian colleges with comparable mission. Across this peer set, Judson lands in the upper half on ROI, with completion rate as a real differentiator. The closest functional Illinois peers would be Trinity Christian, Olivet Nazarene, or Wheaton (Wheaton is much stronger).
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judson University (this school) | 58 | $18,558 | $56,313 |
| Cedarville University | 61 | $24,468 | $55,443 |
| Goshen College | 60 | $14,493 | $51,943 |
| Pacific Union College | 57 | $41,008 | $70,484 |
| Andrews University | 56 | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
Who Thrives Here
With 708 students and a 39% Pell rate, Judson serves a moderately middle-income, predominantly Evangelical Christian student population from the Chicago metro and broader Midwest. The fit profile: students drawn to Christian-college community, who value Judson's well-regarded undergraduate Architecture program (one of few accredited B.Arch tracks at this institution scale), or who want a small business/education program close to Chicago. Architecture (24 graduates), Business Administration (50), and Psychology (19) are the largest reported programs.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Judson University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $18,558 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,313 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $25,000 against $56,313 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Judson University: Common Questions
Is Judson University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Judson University scores 58/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,558 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,313 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools.
How much does Judson University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $18,558 a year, or roughly $74,232 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Judson University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,313 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,513 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 Judson 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 10.1 years for Judson University. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Judson University graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $25,000, against $56,313 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Judson University?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.9%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.