Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois · Public · 97.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SIU Edwardsville posts a 67 ROI score in the Fair Value tier. The cost-side is favorable: tuition runs $12,922 (the school charges the same to in-state and out-of-state students under a regional tuition policy), with a $14,889 net price after aid and a $59,556 four-year total. Earnings climb from $39,600 at six years to $56,346 by year ten - a strong 42% growth reflecting graduates building careers in the St. Louis metropolitan labor market. The payback period is 9.3 years and the 0.518 debt-to-earnings ratio against $20,500 of median debt is excellent. Completion is 57.0%; repayment is 74.7% three-year. The standout feature is the engineering and CS portfolio: electrical engineering, CS, computer engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and industrial engineering all deliver B+ ROI grades. For students choosing STEM, nursing, or accounting, SIUE delivers genuinely strong outcomes. The metro St. Louis labor market access (Boeing, Mastercard, Centene, Edward Jones, plus regional manufacturing) is the structural ROI advantage.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,922/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,922/yr |
| Average net price | $14,889/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,556 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,346 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,750 |
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: $12,922/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $14,889/year, or roughly $59,556 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 $8,483/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,684/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, 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 ($39,600) and comes to 0.52, 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 | $8,483 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,587 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,116 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,351 |
| $110,001+ | $24,684 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay just $8,483 net per year. With Pell stacking and Illinois MAP grants, the actual out-of-pocket is very low for low-income students. Across four years that's $34K, genuinely affordable. Combined with the strong STEM pipelines, this is a strong value play for low-income students choosing engineering or CS.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Brackets behave normally: $30,001-$48,000 pays $8,587, $48,001-$75,000 pays $11,116, $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $19,351 (a steep cliff). Middle-income Illinois families up to $75K get excellent value; the $75K+ bracket sees the typical aid drop-off. Still, total four-year costs of $34K-$77K are competitive with any Illinois public option.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $24,684 - well above sticker because of housing/fee components and minimal aid. At $99K over four years, the math is reasonable for Illinois families paying full freight and choosing strong-ROI majors. Students from this bracket should focus on engineering, CS, or nursing where outcomes decisively justify the investment.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $83,867 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,403 | C+ |
| Psychology | $48,951 | D |
| Biology | $60,059 | C |
| Teacher Education | $43,916 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,466 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $57,915 | C |
| Computer Science | $106,082 | B+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,837 | D |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $55,110 | 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.
Computer Science
CS is SIUE's strongest large program: 82 graduates with $76,106 first-year and $106,082 four-year earnings against $21,745 debt - a 0.286 debt-to-earnings ratio and B+ grade. Six-figure four-year earnings on $22K debt at a regional public is excellent. The St. Louis tech labor market (Mastercard, Boeing, Edward Jones, plus enterprise IT at major employers) absorbs SIUE CS graduates at strong starting pay. This program decisively justifies attendance.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is SIUE's flagship by volume: 470 graduates with $71,161 first-year and $83,867 four-year earnings against $23,043 debt. The 0.324 debt-to-earnings ratio and B+ grade is excellent. St. Louis-area healthcare (BJC HealthCare, Mercy, SSM, plus southern Illinois regional employers) absorb graduates at strong starting pay. The combination of moderate debt, strong earnings, and very high program volume makes this a flagship value play.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (28 graduates) shows $79,617 first-year and $99,325 four-year earnings against $25,113 debt - a 0.315 ratio and B+ grade. St. Louis-area defense (Boeing), aerospace, and power-generation employers (Ameren) absorb EE graduates reliably. Strong outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
General Business is the largest program (297 graduates) with $43,753 first-year and $65,403 four-year earnings against $22,500 debt - a 0.514 ratio and C+ grade. Students should specialize in finance, accounting, or business information systems for stronger outcomes.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 158 students per year with $32,459 first-year and $48,951 four-year earnings against $25,000 debt - a 0.77 ratio and D grade. The standard psychology problem at scale: weak undergrad earnings demand graduate-school plans. Students should pivot toward applied tracks (HR, social work, school psych) or commit to a clinical psych or counseling master's pipeline.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’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 | 97.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 8,750 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,158 |
SIUE admits 97.5% of applicants, making it nearly open-admission. SAT mid-50% bands run Math 460-590 and Reading 490-600; ACT 20-27. The 57% completion rate is consistent with this profile - prepared students finish, but the open-admission policy admits some who don't. Students arriving with college-prep coursework and committing to STEM, nursing, or business programs do well.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (this school) | 67 | $14,889 | $56,346 |
| Texas Woman's University | 69 | $11,963 | $56,544 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | 67 | $5,579 | $53,501 |
| South Dakota State University | 61 | $19,841 | $55,070 |
| Eastern Illinois University | 54 | $12,786 | $51,989 |
| Chicago State University | 16 | $12,335 | $42,778 |
Who Thrives Here
SIUE fits Illinois and broader metro St. Louis students who want an affordable public with strong engineering, nursing, and CS programs. Outcomes look strongest for engineering (electrical, computer, civil, mechanical - all B+ grade), CS (B+ at 82 graduates, the second-largest STEM cohort), and nursing (B+ at 470 graduates - a massive program).
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $14,889 a year after aid ($59,556 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $56,346 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, 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.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville: Common Questions
Is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 67/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,889 a year after aid ($59,556 over four years) against $56,346 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 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 $14,889 a year, or roughly $59,556 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,346 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,546 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville?
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 9.3 years for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.