Elmhurst University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Elmhurst, Illinois. It enrolls 3,006 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes65
Value44
Affordability46
Selectivity56
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 73.6%, Elmhurst University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
73.6%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
990 – 1260
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
23 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Elmhurst University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
8.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Elmhurst University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $24,185 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$24,185
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
77%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$42,955
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,528
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,038
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,316
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,950
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,679
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,892
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,377
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,098
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,419
Over $110,000
$30,232
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$8,30525%percentile
$20,489Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $16,875
↓ $3,614
No Pell $14,000
↓ $6,489
Dependent students $14,236
↓ $6,253
Independent students $21,000
↑ $511
Female students $16,000
↓ $4,489
Male students $14,000
↓ $6,489
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,750, less than completers ($20,489), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at Elmhurst University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Elmhurst University earn a median of $61,462 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$61,462
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$43,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$54,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,500, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
10.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 85% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Elmhurst University is home to 3,006 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,006
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.2%1,329
Hispanic 33.8%1,017
Asian 8.2%247
Black 6.1%182
International 4.3%128
Other 3.4%101
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Elmhurst University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbElmhurst, Illinois
Housing
Partly residential972 beds available
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Elmhurst University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
65 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Elmhurst University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$201M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,291
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
168 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
47
28%
$93,372
Associate Professors
37
22%
$80,503
Assistant Professors
63
38%
$72,515
Instructors
1
1%
$62,500
Lecturers
20
12%
$57,741
Pros & Cons of Elmhurst University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Elmhurst University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Frequently Asked Questions about Elmhurst University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Elmhurst University.
Is Elmhurst University hard to get into?
Admissions at Elmhurst University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 73.6%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Elmhurst University?
Elmhurst University has an acceptance rate of 73.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Elmhurst University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Elmhurst University scored between 990 and 1260 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Elmhurst University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Elmhurst University scored between 23 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Elmhurst University cost?
The average net price after aid at Elmhurst University is $24,185 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Elmhurst University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $61,462 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $24,185 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Elmhurst University known for?
Elmhurst University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Elmhurst University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Elmhurst University are $61,462, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Elmhurst University accredited?
Yes. Elmhurst University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Elmhurst University?
Elmhurst University enrolls 3,006 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Elmhurst University?
Elmhurst University graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Elmhurst University a public or private college?
Elmhurst University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Elmhurst University located?
Elmhurst University is located in Elmhurst, Illinois.
What programs does Elmhurst University offer?
Elmhurst University offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Elmhurst University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Elmhurst University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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