Student Outcomes
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 64.4%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 65.2%
- Retention Rate
- 75.9%
- Median Earnings (10 years after entry)
- $61,462
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $20,489
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 71.3%
- Estimated Monthly Loan Payment
- $217/mo
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $84,653 | $26,575 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $81,997 | $41,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $63,832 | $20,135 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $57,318 | $30,520 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $55,964 | $18,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $54,209 | $18,125 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $53,358 | $41,000 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor | $51,690 | $18,750 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $48,823 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $45,383 | $19,000 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor | $42,682 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $42,276 | $21,950 |
| Mathematics. | Bachelor | $41,565 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $39,369 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $36,401 | $27,000 |
Outcomes Overview
Elmhurst graduates earn a median of $61,462 ten years after graduation, putting them in solid middle-class territory. The typical monthly loan payment of $217 represents about 4.2% of gross income, well below the recommended 10% threshold. With median debt of $20,489, graduates carry a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, which is reasonable for a private liberal arts education. The university's strong programs in business, education, and nursing feed into stable career paths with predictable income growth. The 95.9% employment rate shows graduates find work readily. Given the manageable debt burden and steady earning potential in practical fields, Elmhurst delivers an average return on investment for students seeking career-focused liberal arts training.