Lewis University
#3 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois- Graduation Rate
- 65% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $66,099 A
- Top 9% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $17,028 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 71% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois.
Every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,544,540.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 62% more than the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Lewis University Matters
Lewis University is a private university in Romeoville, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 4,015
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI · 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Lewis 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 71% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 960–1210. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,028 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $66,099 ten years after enrolling — 62% above the typical college, against $21,500 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 (1.71 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Lewis University serves 4,015 students and has a 71% acceptance rate. This means more students can access higher education here compared to many other institutions. With a graduation rate of 65%, students find a supportive environment to complete their degrees.
Looking at outcomes, graduates from Lewis University earn a median salary of $66,099 ten years after enrolling. This earning potential is significant for students making decisions about their future. While specific mobility and success rates for low-income students are not available, the opportunity to earn a solid wage post-graduation is a compelling factor for many.
The net price to attend is $17,028, with a median debt of $21,500. This financial structure indicates that students can expect a manageable amount of debt relative to their earnings. Those who thrive here are often drawn to programs in Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, Transportation, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice, which align well with job market demands.
Rankings
- #3 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Illinois
- #4 Best Online Colleges in Illinois
- #4 Best Computer Science Colleges in Illinois
- #4 Best Nursing Colleges in Illinois
- #4 Best Education Colleges in Illinois
- #4 Best Data Science Colleges in Illinois
- #5 Best MBA Programs in Illinois
- #6 Best Colleges in Illinois
Can I Get In?
How selective Lewis 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 Lewis University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Romeoville, Illinois, Lewis University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,096. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 71%
- Retention Rate
- 79%
- SAT Average
- 1096
- ACT Midpoint
- 23
- SAT Range
- 960–1210
- ACT Range
- 20–27
- Full-Time Faculty
- 40%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,457
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
- Applicants
- 4,746
- Admitted
- 3,515
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 Lewis University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lewis University is $39,200, 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 $17,028. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,382 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $39,200
- Out-of-State
- $39,200
- Avg Net Price
- $17,028
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,382
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,712
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,178
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,035
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 Lewis 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 Lewis University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lewis University earn a median of $66,099, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $56,095
- 8 Years
- $61,064
- 10 Years
- $66,099
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 72%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (378)
- 51%
- 100% (378)
- 51%
- 100% (378)
- 51%
- 100% (378)
- 51%
How Lewis 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 Lewis University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Lewis University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,028/year ($68,112 total). Graduates earn $66,099 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,612,652 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,544,540 (23.7× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 65% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $68,112
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,612,652
- Net Return
- $1,544,540
- ROI Multiple
- 23.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,028
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
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 Lewis University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lewis 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 1.64%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $93,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.64%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 28.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $127,305
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-4,908,307
Top Programs
The fields Lewis 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.
- Business & Marketing 17% $58,848 early-career
- Education 15% $45,495 early-career
- Health Professions 15% $80,791 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 12% $50,714 early-career
- Transportation 10% $52,924 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $42,610 early-career
- Psychology 6% $42,420 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 3% $28,313 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 Lewis 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 Lewis University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Romeoville, Illinois, Lewis University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 71%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,096. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lewis University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Lewis University is $39,200, 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 $17,028. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,382 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Lewis University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Lewis University earn a median of $66,099, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Lewis University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Lewis 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 1.64%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 28.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $93,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Lewis 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 Lewis University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lewis University.
- SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo, NY · Close peer72% grad $67,316 earn 66% 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
- Ramapo College of New JerseyMahwah, NJ · Close peer71% grad $67,541 earn 71% 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
- University of La VerneLa Verne, CA · Close peer64% grad $65,464 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bradley UniversityPeoria, IL · Close peer74% grad $66,852 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Lewis 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 Lewis University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.71, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note