Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Illinois
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Illinois4 schools
4 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Benedictine University
Lisle, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5.9 years
- Earnings $63,446 ten years out
- 2
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.1 years
- Earnings $68,751 ten years out
- 3
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.2 years
- Earnings $71,530 ten years out
- 4
Quincy University
Quincy, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 40.5 years
- Earnings $50,369 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benedictine University | $22,313 | $22,500 | $63,446 | 50% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| Loyola University Chicago | $36,079 | $24,157 | $71,530 | 73% |
| Quincy University | $20,359 | $24,000 | $50,369 | 45% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.