Eureka College
#8 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 41% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,641 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,349 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 85% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 18.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $18.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,226,586.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 41% — 28% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $18.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Eureka College Matters
Eureka College is a private college in Eureka, 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 College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 522
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 61
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Psychology, Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Eureka College
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
Accessible — admits about 85% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,349 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,641 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $23,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 34% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.65 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Eureka College has an acceptance rate of 85%, making it accessible for many students seeking higher education. With an enrollment of 522, it creates an intimate learning environment where students can receive personalized attention.
According to Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics are not available for Eureka College. However, graduates earn a median income of $51,641 within ten years of completing their degree, which offers a solid foundation for future financial growth. This suggests that while the graduation rate is low at 41%, those who complete their programs may find decent economic opportunities.
The net price to attend Eureka College is $17,349, with a median debt of $23,250 upon graduation. Nearly half of the students receive Pell Grants, indicating a commitment to supporting low-income students. This college may appeal to students interested in Business, Psychology, Education, Criminal Justice, or Biology, particularly those who thrive in smaller, close-knit academic settings.
Rankings
- #8 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois
- #16 Best Communications Colleges in Illinois
- #23 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
- #28 Smallest Colleges in America
- #29 Best Biology Colleges in Illinois
- #30 Best Psychology Colleges in Illinois
- #32 Best Business Colleges in Illinois
- #36 Best Bachelor's Programs in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Eureka College 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 Eureka College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Eureka, Illinois, Eureka College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 85%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 85%
- Retention Rate
- 50%
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,632
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
- Applicants
- 934
- Admitted
- 810
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 Eureka College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Eureka College is $29,096, 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 $17,349. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,711 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $29,096
- Out-of-State
- $29,096
- Avg Net Price
- $17,349
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 49%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 76%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $13,711
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,527
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,602
- Family Income $110K+
- $23,482
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Eureka College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Eureka College earn a median of $51,641, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,968
- 8 Years
- $44,406
- 10 Years
- $51,641
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (88)
- 52%
- 100% (88)
- 52%
- 100% (88)
- 52%
- 100% (88)
- 52%
How Eureka 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 Eureka College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Eureka College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,349/year ($69,396 total). Graduates earn $51,641 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,295,982 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,226,586 (18.7× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $69,396
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,295,982
- Net Return
- $1,226,586
- ROI Multiple
- 18.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,349
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 41%
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 Eureka College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Eureka College 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 1.83%, well above the typical college. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.83%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $76,500
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,066,259
- Investment Income
- $-3,430,852
Top Programs
The fields Eureka College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 17%
- Education 11%
- Psychology 8%
- Visual & Performing Arts 8%
- Criminal Justice 8%
- Communications 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Health Professions 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Eureka College'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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Eureka College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Eureka, Illinois, Eureka College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 85%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eureka College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Eureka College is $29,096, 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 $17,349. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $13,711 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
Is Eureka College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Eureka College earn a median of $51,641, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Eureka College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Eureka College 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 1.83%, well above the typical college. About 9.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Eureka College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eureka College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Eureka College.
- Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburg, PA · Close peer39% grad $52,374 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Holy CrossNew Orleans, LA · Close peer42% grad $49,316 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Louisiana Christian UniversityPineville, LA · Close peer42% grad $51,700 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, NC · Close peer39% grad $51,562 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southwestern Adventist UniversityKeene, TX · Close peer47% grad $52,946 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rosemont CollegeRosemont, PA · Close peer49% grad $48,555 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Eureka College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eureka College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.65, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note