Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 81.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Loyola University Chicago earns an overall ROI score of 69 (Fair Value). The Jesuit Catholic research university lists $53,710 tuition with an average net price of $36,079 - a substantial discount but still a $144,316 four-year cost. Earnings reach $45,200 six years out and $71,530 at 10 years, with $24,157 median debt and debt-to-earnings of 0.534. Payback is 7.8 years. Completion is 73% and repayment is exceptional at 82.4% three-year (climbing to 84.4% by year seven). The program-level data is remarkable: nursing, accounting, computer science, finance, MIS, and business all earn B or B+ grades, and the dominant Registered Nursing program graduates 424 students per cycle at $76,869 first-year earnings. Liberal arts and social science majors pull weaker grades but still produce respectable absolute outcomes by leveraging Chicago's labor market.
Loyola University Chicago
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,710/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,710/yr |
| Average net price | $36,079/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $144,316 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,530 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,157 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $256 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 11,737 |
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: $53,710/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $36,079/year, or roughly $144,316 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 $28,992/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $42,346/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,157, which works out to about $256 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,200) and comes to 0.53, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $28,992 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,663 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,432 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,853 |
| $110,001+ | $42,346 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $28,992 net per year - four-year cost about $116K. Significant aid relative to sticker but still a meaningful borrowing requirement. The 30-48K bracket pays slightly less at $28,663. Workable for completers across most disciplines given the strong Chicago-market wage outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48-75K bracket pays $32,432 and 75-110K pays $36,853 - the standard private-nonprofit donut-hole rise. Four-year cost runs $130K-$147K. This is the band where program selection matters most: nursing and CS justify the spend; humanities tracks require careful debt management.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Four-year cost is $169K. Families over $110K pay $42,346 - still well below sticker. Loyola's location and Jesuit network are the main differentiators.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Loyola University Chicago with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,922 | B |
| Psychology | $56,658 | D |
| Biology | $62,821 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $89,001 | B |
| International Relations | $63,437 | C |
| Marketing | $86,662 | C+ |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $68,942 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $89,745 | B |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $58,373 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,145 | C |
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
Registered Nursing is Loyola's largest program at 424 graduates per cycle and earns a B grade. Graduates earn $76,869 one year out and $87,922 at four years against $27,000 median debt. Debt-to-earnings of 0.351 is healthy.
Psychology
Psychology is the largest non-nursing major at 280 graduates and pulls a D grade. First-year earnings of $32,463 against $25,000 debt produces a 0.77 ratio. Four-year earnings climb to $56,658 - meaningful growth. Many Loyola psych grads pursue graduate study where the institutional pedigree pays off later, but the undergraduate financial picture is weak.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance earns a B with 149 graduates. First-year earnings of $66,919 climb to $89,001 at four years against $24,988 debt - a 0.373 ratio. Strong outcomes reflecting placement into Chicago's robust financial services sector. One of Loyola's standout business tracks.
International Relations
International Relations earns a C with 147 graduates - a popular liberal arts track. First-year earnings of $37,007 climb to $63,437 at four years against $23,250 debt - a 0.628 ratio. The four-year jump is encouraging and reflects Loyola's strong placement into international affairs, NGO, and policy roles in Chicago and DC.
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems earns a B with 90 graduates. First-year earnings of $67,801 climb to an exceptional $103,884 at four years against $24,500 debt - a 0.361 ratio. MIS is Loyola's hidden gem program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Loyola University Chicago’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 | 81.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-32 |
| Enrollment | 11,737 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,515 |
Loyola admits 81.6% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges of 570-670 math and 600-690 reading and ACT 27-32 indicate a strongly prepared student body despite the high admit rate, suggesting strong self-selection. The combination produces the 73% completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola University Chicago (this school) | 69 | $36,079 | $71,530 |
| St. John's University-New York | 68 | $29,999 | $69,571 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| National University | 64 | $22,878 | $67,548 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Loyola fits Chicago-area and Midwestern students drawn to Jesuit identity and a major urban research university experience. Pell rate is 23.8% and enrollment is 11,737. The strongest fit case spans nursing, business, CS, finance, MIS, accounting - a wide range of B-grade programs. Liberal arts and humanities students benefit from Chicago's labor market even at moderate institutional ROI grades. Loyola's network effects in Chicago healthcare, law, and finance are substantial.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Loyola University Chicago is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $36,079 a year after aid ($144,316 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $71,530 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 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 73.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,157 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, 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.
Loyola University Chicago: Common Questions
Is Loyola University Chicago worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Loyola University Chicago is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 69/100 on our ROI scale. At $36,079 a year after aid ($144,316 over four years) against $71,530 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Loyola University Chicago 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 $36,079 a year, or roughly $144,316 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 Loyola University Chicago graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,530 ten years after enrolling, roughly $29,730 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 Loyola University Chicago?
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 7.8 years for Loyola University Chicago. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Loyola University Chicago graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,157, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. 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 Loyola University Chicago?
The six-year graduation rate is 73.0%, 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.