At $35,196/yr net price, Loyola University Chicago graduates earn $71,530/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $37,530/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $35,196 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $140,784 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,530/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$37,530/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 76.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $24,157 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,666/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $29,489/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,527/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,217/yr |
| $110,001+ | $40,370/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $220,906 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $116,458 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $97,604 | $59,750 |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies. | Master | $97,071 | $58,186 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $87,470 | $59,409 |
| Statistics. | Master | $71,015 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $68,219 | |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Doctoral | $66,821 | $92,394 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $66,195 | $25,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $66,029 | $24,166 |
The Risk Factor
76.9% of students at Loyola University Chicago graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 23% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Loyola University Chicago gives you a solid financial return, with median earnings ten years out beating the $35,196 yearly net price and a graduation rate near 77% that means you are likely to finish and actually collect the degree you paid for. Median debt sits around $24,000, low enough that repayment stays manageable on the salaries its top programs produce.
The strongest bets are its professional and business degrees. Nursing and management information systems both clear $66,000 a decade out, and the Chicago job market backs both up with hospitals and corporate IT demand. Accounting and finance land in the mid-to-high $50s to low $60s, and all three business programs carry lighter debt loads around $22,000, so your payoff-to-cost ratio there is the best on the list. Business/managerial economics is the weakest of the top five at roughly $55,000, still respectable but not strong.
The main risk is that only bachelor-level data shown here comes from nursing and business fields. Loyola is a broad liberal-arts Catholic university, and its humanities and social-science majors are not in the top-earning list. If you enroll expecting one of those paths, the $35,000 sticker price becomes a much harder bet, and you should weigh the debt carefully.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families: if your household earns under $30k, you pay about $28,700, versus over $40,000 if you earn above $110k. That $12,000 gap means Loyola works best financially for you if you qualify for need-based aid and target nursing, MIS, accounting, or finance. If you are a full-pay family aiming at a lower-earning major, a strong public university will likely give you a better return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Loyola University Chicago worth the cost?
Loyola University Chicago's $35,196 annual net price leads to median earnings of $71,530 after 10 years, which is reasonable but not outstanding for the cost. The value depends heavily on your major, with health administration and nursing programs showing strong returns while other fields may struggle to justify the expense.
What are the best paying majors at Loyola University Chicago?
Health and Medical Administrative Services leads with median earnings over $220,000, followed by nursing programs averaging $97,000-$116,000. Business and legal studies graduates earn around $87,000-$97,000, significantly lower than the health-focused programs.
How much student debt do Loyola University Chicago graduates have?
Loyola University Chicago graduates leave with a median debt of $24,157, which is manageable compared to many private universities. This debt level is reasonable for graduates entering high-paying health fields but may be challenging for those in lower-earning majors.
Does Loyola University Chicago have good financial aid?
With a sticker price around $60,000 but a net price of $35,196, Loyola University Chicago provides substantial financial aid that cuts costs nearly in half. However, the remaining cost is still significant and may not be justified for all degree programs.