Elmhurst University
#9 Best Education Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $61,462 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $24,185 D
- 41% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 74% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years. Ranked #9 in Best Education Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $15.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,377,418.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 51% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Elmhurst University Matters
Elmhurst University is a private university in Elmhurst, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,006
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI · 76
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology
Why students choose Elmhurst University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 74% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 990–1260. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,185 a year after grants and scholarships — 41% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,462 ten years after enrolling — 51% above the typical college, against $20,489 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 41% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.72 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
About 37% of students at Elmhurst University receive Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income students. The acceptance rate stands at 74%, making it accessible for a wide range of applicants. With an enrollment of 3,006, the university fosters a close-knit community where students can thrive academically and socially.
Elmhurst's graduates earn a median salary of $61,462 within ten years of completing their degrees. While specific mobility data is not available, this earning potential suggests that students can achieve a favorable return on their investment. The graduation rate of 68% indicates that most students successfully complete their programs, which is a positive sign for future earnings and career advancement.
The net price of attending Elmhurst is $24,185, with a median debt of $20,489 upon graduation. This financial profile is manageable for many students, especially considering the potential earnings after graduation. Students who excel here typically come from diverse backgrounds and have a strong interest in fields such as Health Professions, Business, Psychology, Education, and the Visual and Performing Arts.
Rankings
- #9 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
- #11 Best Nursing Colleges in Illinois
- #13 Best Psychology Colleges in Illinois
- #18 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #18 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #19 Best Colleges in Illinois
- #19 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
- #20 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Elmhurst University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Elmhurst University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Elmhurst, Illinois, Elmhurst University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- SAT Average
- 1151
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 990–1260
- ACT Range
- 23–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,989
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 35%
- Applicants
- 5,731
- Admitted
- 4,356
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Elmhurst University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Elmhurst University is $42,955, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,185. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,892 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,489 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $42,955
- Out-of-State
- $42,955
- Avg Net Price
- $24,185
- Median Debt
- $20,489
- Pell Grant Rate
- 37%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 77%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,892
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,377
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $23,098
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,232
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Elmhurst University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Elmhurst University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Elmhurst University earn a median of $61,462, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $52,803
- 8 Years
- $59,730
- 10 Years
- $61,462
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 75%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (296)
- 58%
- 100% (296)
- 58%
- 100% (296)
- 58%
- 100% (296)
- 58%
How Elmhurst Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Elmhurst University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Elmhurst University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,185/year ($96,740 total). Graduates earn $61,462 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,474,158 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,377,418 (15.2× your investment). The median debt is $20,489, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $96,740
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,474,158
- Net Return
- $1,377,418
- ROI Multiple
- 15.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,185
- Median Debt
- $20,489
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Elmhurst University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Elmhurst University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.65%, well above the typical college. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.65%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $136,137
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $7,482,768
- Investment Income
- $4,850,383
Top Programs
The fields Elmhurst University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 18% $75,845 early-career
- Business & Marketing 18% $66,496 early-career
- Education 12% $50,232 early-career
- Psychology 10% $36,562 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 9% $29,017 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $33,550 early-career
- English & Literature 4% $42,420 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Elmhurst University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Elmhurst University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Elmhurst, Illinois, Elmhurst University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 74%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,151. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Elmhurst University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Elmhurst University is $42,955, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,185. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,892 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,489 in federal student loans.
Is Elmhurst University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Elmhurst University earn a median of $61,462, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Elmhurst University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Elmhurst University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.65%, well above the typical college. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Elmhurst University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Elmhurst University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Elmhurst University.
- Stevenson UniversityOwings Mills, MD · Close peer67% grad $62,079 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rider UniversityLawrenceville, NJ · Close peer62% grad $62,208 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- St. Joseph's University-New YorkBrooklyn, NY · Close peer67% grad $63,905 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- York College of PennsylvaniaYork, PA · Close peer62% grad $61,012 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gannon UniversityErie, PA · Close peer68% grad $58,845 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA · Close peer68% grad $56,778 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Elmhurst University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Elmhurst University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.72, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note