Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Millikin University #1131 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,804 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 26.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Millikin University #1130 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — the institution's strongest pillar.
Millikin University draws strength from its distinctive program portfolio. Access and affordability represent the composite's lower-ranked pillars. For prospective students evaluating Millikin University alongside peer institutions, the composite reflects a school where return on investment and program strength anchor the value proposition, while cost considerations and enrollment selectivity shape the overall ranking.
Millikin University's published cost of attendance is $57,475. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $18,659, middle-income families pay around $23,053, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,524. Azimuth ranks Millikin University #934 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. Millikin University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid, with aid packages typically combining scholarships, grants, and loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: while net price and sticker price can differ substantially, the gap between them shapes how affordable the institution is after graduation relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,486; 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 Millikin University's median four-year earnings of $54,115, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Millikin University is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a private nonprofit college experience in IL, with outcomes that track Midwest's regional labor market. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,115, placing Millikin University in the 13.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,804 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 26.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations. The institution enrolls 37.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.8% who are first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $27,524, with aid packages available to close the gap for qualifying students. Fit depends on program alignment — Visual & Performing Arts represents 21% of degrees, making Millikin especially well-suited for students pursuing those fields. The 66.7% admit rate indicates moderately selective access.
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 Millikin University 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.
Millikin University's published cost of attendance is $57,475. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $18,659, middle-income families pay around $23,053, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,524.
Azimuth ranks Millikin University #934 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.
Millikin University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid, with aid packages typically combining scholarships, grants, and loans. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: while net price and sticker price can differ substantially, the gap between them shapes how affordable the institution is after graduation relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,486; 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 Millikin University's median four-year earnings of $54,115, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Millikin University earn median 4-year earnings of $54,115, placing the institution in the 13.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Millikin University sits in the 26.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Millikin University #1072 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's earnings profile reflects strength in visual and performing arts alongside complementary fields.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft is the largest program with 63 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,666, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 55 students earning $82,200 four years after enrollment, while Business Administration and Subject-Specific Teacher Education round out the top programs with 36 and 34 graduates respectively.
The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts — which comprises 21% of degrees — anchors the institution's distinctive earnings trajectory, supported by secondary strength in Business (19%) and Education (16%).
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eureka College Higher acceptance rate (34.4 percentage points higher) and located 62 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 88% | $51,641 | Compare |
Eastern Illinois University Higher acceptance rate (13.7 percentage points higher) and located 49 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 68% | $51,989 | Compare |
Illinois College Higher acceptance rate (20.6 percentage points higher) and located 68 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IL | 75% | $52,575 | Compare |
Lesley University Higher acceptance rate (40.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 94% | $51,173 | Compare |
Loyola University New Orleans Higher acceptance rate (33.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | LA | 88% | $52,927 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Whittier College Similar quality tier (#30583 ranked) | CA | 81% | $59,492 | #30583 | Compare |
Hobart William Smith Colleges Similar quality tier (#30584 ranked) | NY | 64% | $68,831 | #30584 | Compare |
Elizabethtown College Similar quality tier (#30585 ranked) | PA | 78% | $62,399 | #30585 | Compare |
William Woods University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#30575 ranked) | MO | 71% | $42,401 | #30575 | Compare |
Dallas Baptist University Similar quality tier (#30574 ranked) | TX | 89% | $56,807 | #30574 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
55 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
36 graduates
Marketing
6 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
5 graduates
Biology, General
26 graduates
Millikin University's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts, reflecting the institution's distinctive identity as a private liberal arts university with deep roots in creative disciplines. Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft is the largest program with 63 graduates, followed by Nursing, Business Administration, Subject-Specific Teacher Education, and Teacher Education.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 378 students annually, the institution's strength lies in applied creative fields and business-oriented majors that connect directly to workforce outcomes. The earnings pattern reflects a portfolio where creative and performing arts programs coexist with higher-earning business and applied fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $82,200 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $71,489, Biology, General at $64,834, Accounting at $60,804, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education at $52,910. This diversity in earnings outcomes across programs reflects Millikin University's positioning as an institution where students pursue both creative passions and practical career pathways.
Millikin University's program concentration in Visual & Performing Arts distinguishes it from typical liberal arts peers and shapes student career trajectories toward creative industries, performance, and arts administration. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these creative-sector programs align with labor-market demand in arts, entertainment, and related fields.
Students selecting majors at Millikin University should consider both the creative fulfillment and the specific labor-market outcomes associated with their chosen field, as earnings vary considerably between arts-focused and business-oriented programs.
