Champaign, IL · Private University
Is UIUC Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$81,054
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$16,004
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$34,501
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$138,004
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
2.35x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
3 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
84.9%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$19,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$15,201
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn $36,054 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ranked by graduate earnings
175 graduates
199 graduates
24 graduates
34 graduates
32 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings — your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $143,775) and the lowest (Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: $25,562) is $118,213/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $143,775 | 4.2x |
| Computer Engineering | $122,137 | 3.5x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General(1yr data) | $113,503 | 3.3x |
| Mathematics and Computer Science(1yr data) | $109,843 | 3.2x |
| Nuclear Engineering | $100,427 | 2.9x |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $99,685 | 2.9x |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $96,374 | 2.8x |
| Industrial Engineering | $95,066 | 2.8x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $94,434 | 2.7x |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $93,533 | 2.7x |
| Chemical Engineering | $93,416 | 2.7x |
| Engineering Physics | $92,842 | 2.7x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $90,757 | 2.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,705 | 2.5x |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $86,860 | 2.5x |
| Statistics | $84,760 | 2.5x |
| Materials Engineering | $83,088 | 2.4x |
| Systems Engineering(1yr data) | $81,785 | 2.4x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $81,669 | 2.4x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $80,736 | 2.3x |
| Civil Engineering | $79,514 | 2.3x |
| Marketing | $78,864 | 2.3x |
| Agricultural Engineering | $76,124 | 2.2x |
| Economics | $75,600 | 2.2x |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $74,858 | 2.2x |
| Mathematics | $71,197 | 2.1x |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $65,723 | 1.9x |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $65,454 | 1.9x |
| Political Science and Government | $63,542 | 1.8x |
| Chemistry | $63,276 | 1.8x |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $62,665 | 1.8x |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $61,937 | 1.8x |
| Public Health | $61,751 | 1.8x |
| Special Education and Teaching | $61,326 | 1.8x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,211 | 1.8x |
| Food Science and Technology | $60,641 | 1.8x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $60,121 | 1.7x |
| Physics | $60,090 | 1.7x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $59,437 | 1.7x |
| Plant Sciences | $56,340 | 1.6x |
| Design and Applied Arts | $54,712 | 1.6x |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies | $54,075 | 1.6x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $53,827 | 1.6x |
| Area Studies | $53,328 | 1.6x |
| Social Work | $53,310 | 1.6x |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $53,297 | 1.5x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $51,888 | 1.5x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $50,978 | 1.5x |
| Sustainability Studies(1yr data) | $50,678 | 1.5x |
| History | $49,323 | 1.4x |
| Systems Science and Theory | $48,863 | 1.4x |
| Journalism | $48,706 | 1.4x |
| Agricultural Public Services(1yr data) | $48,643 | 1.4x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $48,264 | 1.4x |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $47,378 | 1.4x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $47,132 | 1.4x |
| Sociology | $47,028 | 1.4x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $45,966 | 1.3x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $45,096 | 1.3x |
| Anthropology | $43,496 | 1.3x |
| Philosophy | $42,942 | 1.2x |
| Geography and Cartography(1yr data) | $42,214 | 1.2x |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology(1yr data) | $41,102 | 1.2x |
| Animal Sciences | $39,967 | 1.2x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $33,844 | 1.0x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology(1yr data) | $33,384 | 1.0x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies(1yr data) | $32,856 | 0.9x |
| International/Global Studies(1yr data) | $30,438 | 0.9x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,363 | 0.8x |
| Music | $28,248 | 0.8x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftLowest | $25,562 | 0.7x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | 2.35x | $81,054 | Strong ROI |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 1.82x | $73,792 | Good ROI |
| University of Maryland-College Park | 2.06x | $82,860 | Strong ROI |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | 1.57x | $60,409 | Good ROI |
| Purdue University-Main Campus | 2.52x | $72,424 | Strong ROI |
| Clemson University | 1.81x | $71,513 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $81,054 10 years after starting — $36,054 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 3 years — faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.