Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville at a Glance
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) is a public university in Edwardsville, Illinois, United States. Located within the Metro East of Greater St. Louis, SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. It is the younger of the two major institutions of the Southern Illinois University system. SIUE has eight constituent undergraduate and graduate colleges, including those in arts and sciences, business, dentistry, education, engineering, gradua…
1957
69 years old
$45M
$45.1 million (2025)
12,813
9,925 undergrad · 2,098 grad
2,660 acres
Identity
Is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Worth It?
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville offers moderate value at $14,889/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $56,346, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 56% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 98% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How Southern Illinois University Edwardsville compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #28 of 114 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State University-Bakersfield | 100 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| #2 | California State University-Stanislaus | 100 | $6,067 | $63,188 |
| #3 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #4 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #5 | University of California-Merced | 93 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| #6 | Oakland University | 92 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| #28 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 53 | $14,889 | $56,346 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
The highest-earning program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is Computer Science at $62,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $20,000/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earns $62,600, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $20,000. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Science graduates carry $24,275 in median debt vs. $25,766 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,889/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $62,600 | $62,600 | $24,275 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $61,700 | $61,700 | $18,872 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $61,400 | $61,400 | $20,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $57,700 | $57,700 | $23,500 |
| Civil Engineering | $56,700 | $56,700 | $21,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $55,300 | $55,300 | $21,378 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $49,300 | $49,300 | $20,500 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $46,500 | $46,500 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,200 | $46,200 | $19,492 |
| Chemistry | $40,500 | $40,500 | $21,750 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $36,500 | $36,500 | $23,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,200 | $35,200 | $21,500 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $33,600 | $33,600 | $23,750 |
| Geography and Cartography | $33,000 | $33,000 | $20,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $32,000 | $32,000 | $24,647 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $31,300 | $31,300 | $22,250 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,100 | $29,100 | $21,500 |
| Social Work | $29,000 | $29,000 | $22,125 |
| Biology, General | $28,000 | $28,000 | $21,750 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $27,900 | $27,900 | $24,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $27,800 | $27,800 | $24,341 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,800 | $27,800 | $21,910 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $27,600 | $27,600 | $21,779 |
| History | $27,200 | $27,200 | $23,375 |
| Sociology | $26,700 | $26,700 | $24,992 |
| Psychology, General | $26,500 | $26,500 | $23,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $23,500 | $23,500 | $26,187 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $20,000 | $20,000 | $25,766 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Edwardsville, IL
- Student Body
- 8,750 students
- Admission Rate
- 98%
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,889
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $56,346
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500