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Judson University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 66/100

Judson University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Elgin, Illinois

About Judson University

Judson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Elgin, Illinois. It enrolls 708 students (a small, tight-knit 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.

Official website: judsonu.edu

Acceptance: 47.6%
Graduation: 53.5%
Net Price: $18,558
Median Earnings (10yr): $56,313
Enrollment: 708
Student : Faculty: 11:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

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

66/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 37

Value 62

Affordability 62

Selectivity 53

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 47.6%, Judson University is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

47.6%

Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

816 – 1118

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

16 – 24

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized 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 Judson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective ↑ 24.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Judson 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 $18,558 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$18,558

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

39%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

55%

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: $31,360
Room & Board (on-campus): $12,320
Room & Board (off-campus): $9,500
Books & Supplies: $1,270
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,500
Total Cost of Attendance: $43,137

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)

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

$15,701
$30,001 – $48,000

$18,010
$48,001 – $75,000

$17,079
$75,001 – $110,000

$21,124
Over $110,000

$21,515

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.

$3,500

10% percentile

$7,833

25% percentile

$25,000

Median percentile

$26,242

75% percentile

$31,775

90% 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 $14,000 ↓ $11,000

No Pell $14,000 ↓ $11,000

Dependent students $14,000 ↓ $11,000

Independent students $14,108 ↓ $10,892

Female students $16,424 ↓ $8,576

Male students $11,721 ↓ $13,279

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,940, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

53% of full-time students who enrolled at Judson University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

53%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

66%

Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Judson University earn a median of $56,313 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$56,313

Earning > $25K

81%

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

$40,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$55,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$42,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$49,600

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$47,900

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,700, about 26% 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 ↑ 13.8 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Judson University is home to 708 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled

708

Part-Time

First-Generation

36%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 42.4% 300

Hispanic 26.3% 186

Black 14.6% 103

International 9.3% 66

Other 3.3% 23

Asian 2.1% 15

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Judson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Midsize City Elgin, Illinois

Housing

Strongly residential 548 beds for 708 students

Adult Learners

13% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

Designation

Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Judson University offers a varied set of programs: 29 distinct programs across 14 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.

4 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Marketing $69K ($50K–$93K)

2 Programs

Architecture

Architecture, General $67K ($54K–$79K)
Architecture, General $67K ($54K–$79K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

2 Programs

Public Administration

Public Administration and Social Service Professions $62K ($41K–$84K)
Human $49K ($35K–$63K)

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

2 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $56K ($40K–$72K)
Natural Sciences $58K ($37K–$80K)

3 Programs

Theology

Pastoral Counseling $43K ($29K–$58K)
Pastoral Counseling $43K ($29K–$58K)
Theology $45K ($31K–$62K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Judson University is 11:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

11:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$27M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$59,956

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

47 instructional faculty across 3 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	19	40%	$63,100
Associate Professors	14	30%	$62,517
Assistant Professors	14	30%	$53,353

Pros & Cons of Judson University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Judson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings

CONS

Selective admissions, solid academic profile expected
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical

Best for: Based on the data, Judson University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Judson University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Judson University.

Is Judson University hard to get into?

Judson University is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 47.6%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.

What is the acceptance rate at Judson University?

Judson University has an acceptance rate of 47.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Judson University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Judson University scored between 816 and 1118 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 Judson University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Judson University scored between 16 and 24 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Judson University cost?

The average net price after aid at Judson University is $18,558 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Judson University worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,313 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $18,558 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Judson University known for?

Judson University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Counseling Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Judson University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Judson University are $56,313, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Judson University accredited?

Yes. Judson University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

How many students attend Judson University?

Judson University enrolls 708 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Judson University?

Judson University graduates 53% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Judson University a public or private college?

Judson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Judson University located?

Judson University is located in Elgin, Illinois.

What programs does Judson University offer?

Judson University offers 29 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Counseling Psychology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Judson University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Judson University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.