University of St Francis
Joliet, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 65.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of St. Francis (USF) in Joliet, Illinois scores 82 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a result driven primarily by strong earnings premiums (sub-score 92) and a 6.6-year payback period. Sticker tuition is $38,110, but the net price drops to $13,006, and the lowest income bracket pays just $5,584 net - an aid model that meaningfully lowers the financial barrier. Average 6-year earnings are $47,100 and median 10-year earnings are $63,926. Completion rate of 66.8% is solid for a small private with a broad access mission. Median debt is $21,079 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.448. Health and administrative programs anchor the best outcomes: Health and Medical Administrative Services (68 graduates, $83,104 year-one, ROI grade B+) is the highest-earning program at year one, while Registered Nursing (122 graduates, $75,811 year-one, $87,383 year-four, ROI grade B) carries the most volume. Accounting (ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.267) and Human Resources Management ($90,495 year-four) round out the strongest programs. Psychology earns a C grade. At $13,006 average net price and a 6.6-year payback, USF offers a competitive ROI profile for a small Illinois private, particularly for students in health, nursing, and business.
University of St Francis scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of St Francis
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,110/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,110/yr |
| Average net price | $13,006/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $52,024 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,926 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,079 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $223 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,223 |
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: $38,110/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $13,006/year, or roughly $52,024 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 $8,547/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,192/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,079, which works out to about $223 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($47,100) and comes to 0.45, 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 | $8,547 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,584 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,749 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $11,311 |
| $110,001+ | $20,192 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 30001-48000 bracket pays $5,584 net price per year at USF - the lowest in the income schedule, below even the 0-30000 bracket ($8,547). At $5,584 annually, a four-year degree costs under $23,000 total in net price. Against $47,100 average 6-year earnings and a 6.6-year payback, this is a genuinely strong financial case for lower-middle-income students. The aid model here appears to actively reward this bracket.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $10,749 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $11,311. These figures represent solid middle-income value at a $38,110 sticker school - net price is less than 30% of sticker for middle-income families. At $10,749-$11,311 per year and average earnings of $47,100, the economics work for students who complete the degree, particularly in nursing and health administration.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $20,192 per year - roughly $81,000 over four years. At a 6.6-year payback and $47,100 average earnings, this is viable for students entering nursing or health administration. For students in lower-earning majors like psychology or teacher education, the payback against $80,000+ total cost is considerably longer. High-income families should run major-specific numbers rather than relying on the aggregate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of St Francis with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,383 | B |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $79,421 | B+ |
| Psychology | $42,474 | C |
| Biology | $58,363 | C+ |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $50,600 | C+ |
| Human Resources Management | $90,495 | - |
| Teacher Education | $48,353 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $53,525 | - |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $68,599 | C+ |
| Marketing | $61,119 | B |
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.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Administrative Services is USF's highest year-one earner: 68 graduates, $83,104 at year one, $79,421 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.339 (ROI grade B+). The slight drop from year one to year four likely reflects a mix of graduates entering different healthcare administration roles. Median debt of $28,135 is moderate against strong starting salaries. This program sits at the intersection of healthcare and business administration, producing graduates positioned for hospital and clinic management roles.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is USF's largest program at 122 graduates, with $75,811 year-one and $87,383 year-four earnings (ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.405). Median debt of $30,700 is above the institutional average but justified by the earnings trajectory. Illinois nursing salaries support these figures. The volume - 122 graduates - gives this program's outcomes more statistical reliability than smaller cohorts.
Accounting
Accounting earns a B+ ROI grade at USF: 12 graduates, $76,680 year-four earnings, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.267. Year-one earnings are not reported by Scorecard for this cohort. Median debt of $20,500 is low. The small cohort limits reliability, but the direction is positive - accounting graduates from a CPA-track program typically see year-one earnings near the reported year-four figure as they pass licensing exams.
Psychology
Psychology earns a C grade at USF: 28 graduates, $42,474 year-four earnings, debt-to-earnings 0.605, median debt $25,681. Year-one earnings are not reported by Scorecard. The C grade reflects the gap between psychology near-term earnings and the debt load carried by graduates. Students interested in psychology who plan graduate or clinical training should model total cost including graduate school before committing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of St Francis’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 | 65.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-32 |
| Enrollment | 1,223 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,272 |
At 65.3% admission rate, USF accepts a majority of applicants. The SAT and ACT ranges are broad enough that students across a wide preparation spectrum are enrolled. Admission is not a significant filter here; the more important question is whether a student will complete the program and whether their chosen major's earnings support the net price. For health programs specifically, the completion and licensing pathway matters more than the admission rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of St Francis (this school) | 82 | $13,006 | $63,926 |
| Drake University | 81 | $29,127 | $71,901 |
| Stonehill College | 80 | $33,016 | $77,745 |
| Rockhurst University | 78 | $25,884 | $67,102 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
USF admits 65.3% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 510-610 Math and 520-610 Reading; ACT composite 20-32. The wide ACT spread (20-32) reflects a student body with genuine range in academic preparation. Enrollment is 1,223 - a small campus with a Franciscan Catholic mission. Pell grant rate of 39.3% indicates meaningful low-income enrollment. Students who thrive in small cohorts with personal faculty attention, and who are targeting health-related or business careers, fit this institution's model well.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of St Francis pays off. You'd pay about $13,006 a year after aid ($52,024 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,926 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $21,079 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, 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.
University of St Francis: Common Questions
Is University of St Francis worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of St Francis pays off. It scores 82/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,006 a year after aid ($52,024 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $63,926 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.6 years to earn back.
How much does University of St Francis 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 $13,006 a year, or roughly $52,024 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 University of St Francis graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $63,926 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,126 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 University of St Francis?
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 6.6 years for University of St Francis. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of St Francis graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,079, against average earnings of $47,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45. 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 University of St Francis?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.8%, 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.