Evanston, Illinois Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Evanston, Illinois shows: median public in-state tuition $68,322 (+1139.5% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $89,363 (+64.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S.) 9,201 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 9,201 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $68,322 (+1139.5% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $89,363 (+64.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 85.7% (-2.2 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $29,167 (+192.6% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,004
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 95.1%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 98.1%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Evanston, Illinois—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Illinois and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Evanston vs Illinois & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston, Illinois | $68,322 | $29,167 | $15,000 | 95.1% | 9,201 |
| Illinois (state median) | $4,788 | $7,399 | $10,929 | 55.2% | 467,912 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Evanston, Illinois vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston, Illinois | $89,363 | 85.7% | 98.1% | 0.70% | — | 91.3% | 0.17 |
| Illinois (state median) | $57,988 | 92.5% | 75.0% | 4.2% | — | 74.5% | 0.40 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Illinois (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evanston, Illinois | $68,322 | $29,167 | $15,000 | 95.1% | 9,201 | $89,363 | 85.7% |
| Chicago | $14,669 | $17,185 | $12,934 | 57.7% | 114,737 | $52,234 | 89.0% |
| Lisle | $26,674 | $27,060 | $22,500 | 43.5% | 30,923 | $63,446 | 91.5% |
| Normal | $10,847 | $19,398 | $7,826 | 64.5% | 22,225 | $62,117 | 95.4% |
| Joliet | $21,320 | $13,140 | $9,711 | 66.8% | 10,609 | $63,926 | 94.1% |
| Springfield | $12,075 | $16,000 | $10,256 | 53.2% | 8,016 | $57,103 | 92.0% |
| Springfield | $12,075 | $16,000 | $10,256 | 53.2% | 8,016 | $57,103 | 92.0% |
| Springfield | $12,075 | $16,000 | $10,256 | 53.2% | 8,016 | $57,103 | 92.0% |
| Rockford | $16,699 | $20,254 | $14,302 | 47.2% | 7,597 | $54,794 | 93.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 95.1%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 85.7%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Evanston, Illinois (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 7.7%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $102,998, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $163,740, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $76,844, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $83,487, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $89,363, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $280,570, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Evanston, Illinois (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $29,167, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Top 10 colleges in Evanston, Illinois by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 98.1%, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
In-state tuition: Evanston, Illinois vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Evanston, Illinois median in-state tuition is $68,322, +1139.5% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Evanston, Illinois vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Evanston, Illinois is $15,000 (+11.7% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,004.
Median earnings (10 years out): Evanston, Illinois vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Evanston, Illinois center around $89,363 (+64.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Evanston, Illinois vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 85.7% at the median Evanston, Illinois campus (-2.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Evanston, Illinois median public in-state tuition is $68,322, about +1139.5% vs the national median. Versus the Great Lakes region, tuition is +1114.6%.
Median graduate debt is $15,000 (+11.7% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Evanston, Illinois are $89,363, about +64.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 85.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-2.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 98.1% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 0.70% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 91.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Northwestern University (85.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Evanston, Illinois is 95.1% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Evanston?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Evanston, Illinois with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Evanston?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Evanston is $68,322 and median net price is $29,167. For Illinois overall, medians are $4,788 and $7,399; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Evanston?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Evanston is $89,363 vs $57,988 for Illinois and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Evanston colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Evanston is $15,000 vs $10,929 for Illinois and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Evanston?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Northwestern University (graduation) and Northwestern University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Evanston?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 campuses in Evanston, Illinois, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Illinois college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON