At $22,048/yr net price, Eureka College graduates earn $51,641/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $17,641/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $22,048 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $88,192 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,641/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$17,641/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 40.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $23,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,076/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,074/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,524/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,111/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $35,274 | $25,910 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $35,060 | $26,475 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $31,423 | $25,000 |
| History. | Bachelor | $30,173 | |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $29,685 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $29,685 | $26,976 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $25,194 |
The Risk Factor
40.6% of students at Eureka College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Eureka College charges you about $22,000 a year net, and the payoff is mixed at best. Ten years out, the median graduate earns just under $52,000. That number clears the debt load,median debt sits around $23,000, well under a single year's earnings,but it hides a problem visible in the program data below.
The listed bachelor's programs pay poorly early on. Business Administration and Criminal Justice, the two highest earners on the list, land around $35,000 with debt above $25,000. That means your first-decade earnings in these fields barely beat your borrowing. Teacher Education, History, and Communication trail further, all under $32,000 with similar debt. If your goal is a strong starting salary, none of these programs deliver one. The gap between the school-wide $52,000 median and these program figures suggests the better outcomes come from paths not broken out here or from graduates who leave central Illinois.
The real financial risk is finishing at all. A 40.6% graduation rate and a 63% retention rate mean roughly four in ten students who start don't return for a second year, and most who enroll never graduate. Paying $22,000 a year and leaving with debt but no degree is the worst outcome, and the odds of that here are high.
The net price tiers barely move with income. Families earning under $30,000 pay about $21,000,nearly the same as families earning $75,000 to $110,000. Eureka does not discount much for low-income families, so if money is tight, you are not getting the deep aid you might expect from a private college.
Eureka fits you if you are confident you'll graduate, plan to teach or enter public-sector work locally, and value a small campus over top earnings. If you need high early pay or steep need-based aid, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eureka College worth the cost?
Eureka College's graduates earn $51,641 after 10 years, which is reasonable given the $22,048 annual net price. However, the 40.6% graduation rate means many students leave without a degree, making this a risky investment for students who struggle academically.
What are the best paying programs at Eureka College?
Business Administration leads at $35,274 in median earnings, followed by Criminal Justice at $35,060. Education and History majors earn around $30,000-31,000, while Communication majors average $29,685.
How much debt do Eureka College graduates have?
The median debt is $23,250, which is manageable compared to the starting salaries in most programs. Students in business and criminal justice should handle this debt load without major difficulty.
Does Eureka College have good financial aid?
The net price of $22,048 suggests decent financial aid since the sticker price is higher. However, with only 40.6% of students graduating, many don't complete their degrees to see the return on investment.