Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #545 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,966 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 90.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #196 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Loyola University Chicago's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, with earnings that consistently outperform similar students at comparable institutions. The institution delivers particularly strong return on investment relative to its private university peers, anchored by business and professional programs in Chicago's diversified economy.
Azimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #545 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private research university (Carnegie R2) in Chicago, IL, Loyola University Chicago enrolls roughly 11,737 undergraduates. Retention is 81.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 73.0%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Loyola University Chicago performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #196 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,865, and Loyola University Chicago sits in the 90.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family, Business, aligns with strong labor-market demand and contributes to solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Loyola University Chicago sits in the 62.9 percentile for access and the 6.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 23.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.7% are first-generation college students, reflecting a moderately selective admissions posture. For students who enroll, the institution's strong return on investment — driven by solid earnings and earnings beyond expectations — positions Loyola University Chicago as a meaningful option for families seeking a private research university with clear financial payoff.
Loyola University Chicago's published cost of attendance is $67,408. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $28,992, families in the lower-middle range pay around $28,663, middle-income families pay about $32,432, upper-middle-income families pay approximately $36,853, and higher-income families pay roughly $42,346. Azimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #1339 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and other institutional factors. Loyola participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. The university's aid structure emphasizes need-based support, with aid packages designed to bridge the gap between sticker price and family contribution. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid and merit scholarships where applicable. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,157, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $54,045; 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 $73,865, median federal debt of $24,157 projects to a monthly payment of about $273 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Loyola University Chicago is a strong fit for students seeking a private nonprofit university experience in IL, particularly those interested in Business and related fields. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,865, placing Loyola University Chicago in the 74.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,966 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 90.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls 23.8% of undergraduates as Pell recipients and 27.7% as first-generation students — a substantial share given its 81.6% admit rate and $42,346 net price for higher-income families. Fit depends on academic alignment with Business programs and comfort with the IL regional job market. Students whose interests match these 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
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This is the Loyola University Chicago hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Loyola University Chicago's published cost of attendance is $67,408. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $28,992, families in the lower-middle range pay around $28,663, middle-income families pay about $32,432, upper-middle-income families pay approximately $36,853, and higher-income families pay roughly $42,346.
Azimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #1339 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and other institutional factors.
Loyola participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. The university's aid structure emphasizes need-based support, with aid packages designed to bridge the gap between sticker price and family contribution.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid and merit scholarships where applicable. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,157, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $54,045; 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 $73,865, median federal debt of $24,157 projects to a monthly payment of about $273 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 Loyola University Chicago earn median 4-year earnings of $73,865, placing Loyola University Chicago in the 74.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,966 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Loyola University Chicago in the 90.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Loyola University Chicago #196 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Loyola University Chicago's concentration in business and professional fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 415 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $87,922, representing 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. Biology, General follows with 305 graduates earning $62,821, and the The Psychology, General program graduates 269 students earning $56,658.
These programs anchor the institution's return profile, with Business representing the dominant degree concentration and driving consistent earnings outcomes across the student body.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. John's University-New York Similar quality tier (#15339 ranked) | NY | 83% | $69,571 | #15339 | Compare |
Touro University Similar quality tier (#15342 ranked) | NY | 61% | $53,419 | #15342 | Compare |
University Of St Thomas Similar quality tier in Midwest (#15343 ranked) | MN | 85% | $73,739 | #15343 | Compare |
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale Similar quality tier (#15267 ranked) | FL | 97% | $39,696 | #15267 | Compare |
Syracuse University Similar quality tier (#15259 ranked) | NY | 46% | $79,164 | #15259 | Compare |
Management Information Systems and Services
86 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
49 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
72 graduates
Computer Engineering
12 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
121 graduates
Loyola University Chicago's program mix is anchored in business, health professions, and social sciences—a portfolio shaped by the institution's Jesuit mission and Chicago's professional-services market. Nursing is the largest program with 415 graduates annually, followed by Biology, General, Psychology, General, Digital Marketing, and Political Science.
Across 63 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in applied professional fields aligned to regional employer demand. The earnings pattern reflects a concentration in business and health-adjacent pathways.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $89,745 four years after enrollment across 121 graduates, followed by Finance at $89,001 with 146 graduates and Nursing at $87,922 with 415 graduates. Digital Marketing and Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication round out the highest-earning cluster, delivering $86,662 and $68,942 respectively.
These programs represent high-mobility direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes and career advancement in finance, accounting, healthcare administration, and related professional fields. The institution's program signature—with Business representing 22%, Social Sciences at 8%, and Arts at 2%—positions Loyola University Chicago as a professional-services-oriented private university in a major metropolitan market.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with Chicago's employer landscape and national labor-market trends.
