For low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #244 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $65,199, placing Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the 69.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sits in the 84.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #170 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. Students at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn about $9,237 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a result driven in large part by the university's health sciences concentration and its graduates' strong placement into regional and national labor markets. Azimuth's composite ranking reflects how Southern Illinois University Edwardsville balances solid earnings outcomes, meaningful mobility for its student population, and accessible public-university pricing in the St. Louis metro region.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville prices accessibly across income levels, reflecting its identity as a public regional university serving a broad range of Illinois families. Low-income students pay approximately $8,483 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,116, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,684. Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #340 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects the net price illusion that characterizes many public institutions, where published costs and real costs diverge meaningfully by income band. Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families pay at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA to access Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and any institutional scholarships. The spread between low- and higher-income net prices reflects how aid packages taper as family income rises — a pattern common to public universities with moderate endowments. Families comparing sticker price to net price should focus on the income-band figures above as the more accurate planning baseline. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,500; 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 $65,199, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a strong fit for students in IL who want a health-focused public university with accessible net prices and a clear path to stable post-graduation earnings — particularly those drawn to nursing, allied health, and related applied fields that define the institution's program signature. Graduates earn median 69.9 percentile median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sits in the 84.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — meaning graduates earn about $9,237 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. The access profile is broad. 32.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.7% are first-generation college students, and the institution's net price for higher-income families runs around $24,684 — a figure that reflects the public-tuition structure that keeps costs predictable across income levels. Median student debt at graduation is $20,500, a manageable figure relative to the earnings trajectory most graduates follow. Fit depends on two realistic filters: students whose interests align with Health and applied professional fields will find the strongest program-level outcomes, while those seeking a broad research-university environment or highly specialized STEM concentrations may find the program mix narrower than they need. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville rewards students who want a direct, regionally grounded path from degree to career without taking on outsized financial risk.
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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #244 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Edwardsville, IL, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville enrolls roughly 8,750 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.0%, figures that reflect a regional institution converting enrollment into degree completion at steady rates. The composite is shaped most strongly by mobility outcomes. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville sits in the 88.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by solid graduation and earnings results for students from lower-income backgrounds. 32.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.7% are first-generation college students, giving the university a broad base of students whose post-graduation trajectories matter for economic mobility. The dominant program family is Health, anchoring much of the institution's degree output in fields with direct workforce pathways. Return on investment sits lower in the composite. Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #490 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,237 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the 84.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median earnings four years after enrollment are $65,199, below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions — though those earnings represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $32,990 in IL. Affordability sits in the 76.2 percentile and access in the 58.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 97.5% reflecting a broad-access posture.
Computer Science
72 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
40 graduates
Computer Engineering
12 graduates
Civil Engineering
54 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
479 graduates
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's program mix is anchored in Health, with meaningful enrollment in business, education, and applied professional fields. Business accounts for 17% of graduates, Engineering represents 11%, and Education makes up 4% — a distribution that reflects the university's regional comprehensive identity and its strength in career-oriented disciplines.
Across 40 programs serving roughly 2,377 students annually, 30 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Nursing is the largest program with 479 graduates and median earnings of $83,867 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #106 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The Business Administration program graduates 300 students with median earnings of $65,403, and the The Psychology, General program graduates 177 students with median earnings of $48,951.
On the earnings side, Computer Science leads at $106,082 with 72 graduates, and Azimuth ranks it #98 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing follows at $83,867, and Azimuth ranks it #106 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Several of the institution's strongest programs are direct-to-workforce pathways — particularly nursing and construction management — where four-year earnings reflect labor-market demand rather than graduate-school deferral. Programs like Communication and Media Studies and Biology, General, by contrast, often serve as foundations for graduate study, meaning four-year earnings may undercount the long-term trajectory for students who continue to advanced degrees.
The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national hiring trends and wage growth. ```
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clemson University Similar quality tier (#9611 ranked) | SC | 38% | $71,513 | #9611 | Compare |
University Of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Similar quality tier (#9097 ranked) | PR | 57% | $48,992 | #9097 | Compare |
University Of Memphis Similar quality tier (#9096 ranked) | TN | 72% | $48,458 | #9096 | Compare |
Winston-Salem State University Similar quality tier (#9093 ranked) | NC | 78% | $45,344 | #9093 | Compare |
Oregon Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#9621 ranked) | OR | 95% | $72,273 | #9621 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville prices accessibly across income levels, reflecting its identity as a public regional university serving a broad range of Illinois families. Low-income students pay approximately $8,483 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,116, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,684.
Azimuth ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville #340 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay reflects the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) that characterizes many public institutions, where published costs and real costs diverge meaningfully by income band.
Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what families pay at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The university participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and students apply through the FAFSA to access Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and any institutional scholarships.
The spread between low- and higher-income net prices reflects how aid packages taper as family income rises — a pattern common to public universities with moderate endowments. Families comparing sticker price to net price should focus on the income-band figures above as the more accurate planning baseline.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,500; 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 $65,199, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 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 Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn median earnings of $65,199 four years after enrollment, placing Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the 69.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $9,237 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 84.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 (the state median earnings of working adults without a college credential).
The degree mix at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is anchored in Health, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 11% and Education at 4%. Nursing combines strong enrollment with solid earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #106 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 479 graduates earning median earnings of $83,867. The Business Administration program graduates 300 students with median earnings of $65,403, and Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #198 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 177 graduates earning median earnings of $48,951.
Communication and Media Studies and Biology, General round out the top programs, with median earnings of $52,466 and $60,059 respectively.
