Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Illinois
Christian colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Illinois5 schools
5 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Illinois.
- Christian 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. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
North Park University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.0 years
- Earnings $59,572 ten years out
- 2
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 7.0 years
- Earnings $63,756 ten years out
- 3
Judson University
Elgin, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.3 years
- Earnings $56,313 ten years out
- 4
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 12.9 years
- Earnings $54,089 ten years out
- 5
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 17.1 years
- Earnings $53,213 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Park University | $16,948 | $25,500 | $59,572 | 58% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Judson University | $18,558 | $25,000 | $56,313 | 60% |
| Concordia University-Chicago | $18,436 | $23,000 | $54,089 | 36% |
| Olivet Nazarene University | $20,729 | $25,000 | $53,213 | 61% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.