Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Judson University #1018 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Judson University in the 27.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Judson University #1098 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Judson University's composite ranking reflects its ability to deliver strong outcomes across multiple dimensions of value. Graduates earn about $7,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a key driver of the institution's overall performance. These results span graduates entering a variety of career paths, supported by the university's focus on practical preparation and workforce alignment.
Azimuth ranks Judson University #1018 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Elgin, Illinois, Judson University enrolls roughly 708 undergraduates. Retention stands at 59.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 59.9%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Judson University draws strength from return on investment. Azimuth ranks Judson University #1098 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Judson University in the 27.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's concentration in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways and employer demand in the Midwest. Access and affordability round out the composite profile. Judson University enrolls 38.7% Pell-eligible students and 35.6% first-generation undergraduates, serving a population with meaningful financial need. The institution sits in the 52.5 percentile for affordability and the 57.0 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a regional private institution's positioning on cost and enrollment breadth. Mobility outcomes place Judson University in the 19.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that graduates move into sustainable career trajectories at rates consistent with peer institutions.
Judson University's published cost of attendance is $43,137. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,701, middle-income families pay around $17,079, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,515. Azimuth ranks Judson University #677 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Judson University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works with families to construct aid packages that bridge the gap between sticker price and net cost. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,048; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,385, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Judson University is a good fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Elgin, IL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,385, placing Judson University in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 27.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 38.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.6% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Judson University in the 50.7 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 47.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business and related fields — students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Judson University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Architecture
27 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
57 graduates
Psychology, General
31 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
12 graduates
Human Services, General
13 graduates
Judson University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready undergraduate education. Business Administration is the largest program with 57 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Architecture, Digital Marketing, and Kinesiology.
The institution's dominant program family, Business, accounts for a substantial share of the degree output across 15 total programs. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional fields.
Architecture graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $63,846 with 27 graduates, while Business Administration delivers median earnings of $63,153. Psychology, General graduates earn $46,816, and Teacher Education reaches $45,830.
These programs represent the institution's most economically productive fields, where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional and national labor-market outcomes. Judson University's program portfolio emphasizes applied business and professional pathways where four-year earnings signal strong early-career outcomes.
The concentration in Business and related professional disciplines positions graduates for stable employment in fields with consistent hiring demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with labor-market trends and regional employer needs in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Judson University's published cost of attendance is $43,137. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $15,701, middle-income families pay around $17,079, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,515.
Azimuth ranks Judson University #677 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Judson University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works with families to construct aid packages that bridge the gap between sticker price and net cost.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,048; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $56,385, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Judson University earn median 4-year earnings of $56,385, placing Judson University in the 31.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,605 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Judson University in the 27.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Judson University #1098 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Judson University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 57 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $63,153, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 31 students with median 4-year earnings of $46,816, and Architecture delivers median 4-year earnings of $63,846 across 27 graduates.
These programs anchor the institution's return profile and align with employer demand in the Midwest and beyond.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Concordia University-Chicago Higher acceptance rate (30.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 27 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 93% | $54,089 | Compare |
Carthage College Higher acceptance rate (21 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 46 miles away; similar graduate earnings | WI | 84% | $56,950 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Higher acceptance rate (29.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 73 miles away; similar graduate earnings | WI | 92% | $54,990 | Compare |
University Of Illinois Springfield Higher acceptance rate (21.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 84% | $57,103 | Compare |
Grand Valley State University Higher acceptance rate (31.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MI | 95% | $56,118 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Friends University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29399 ranked) | KS | 55% | $52,113 | #29399 | Compare |
Kenyon College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29397 ranked) | OH | 31% | $71,830 | #29397 | Compare |
Lenoir-Rhyne University Similar quality tier (#29407 ranked) | NC | 85% | $45,543 | #29407 | Compare |
Alice Lloyd College Similar quality tier (#29408 ranked) | KY | 75% | $40,573 | #29408 | Compare |
Warner University Similar quality tier (#29409 ranked) | FL | 43% | $46,086 | #29409 | Compare |
