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Elmhurst University
Most applicants get into Elmhurst University — 73.6% were admitted — so the real questions are cost, fit and outcomes, covered below.
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Elmhurst University occupies suburban Elmhurst, IL — a private campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. The school maintains its United Church of Christ affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Science, where graduates median $101,273 four years out. Faculty pay averages $107,868 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 3,006 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 79.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 960 and 1210 — below the IL middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Elmhurst University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Scores help here but aren't the gate. If your SAT sits inside the 960–1210 submitter range, sending it likely helps; below it, Elmhurst University's own policy says you can leave it out.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 480 | 550 | 610 |
| SAT Math | 480 | 540 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 23 | 25 | 28 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Elmhurst University received 6,254 applications and admitted 4,737 (75.7%), with 607 enrolling.
How Elmhurst University compares
| Elmhurst University | Illinois median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 73.6% | 77% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $42,955 | $31,360 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $61,462 | $58,572 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Elmhurst University student earns $61,462 — 5% above the Illinois median of $58,572 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Elmhurst University lists tuition at $42,955 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Elmhurst University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $42,955 as the ceiling, not the bill.
Elmhurst University enrolls 3,006 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs Elmhurst University's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
70% of Elmhurst University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 15.1 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $42,955 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Elmhurst University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $101,273 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $79,654 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $79,372 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $76,678 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $76,433 |
| Marketing | $72,286 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | $66,244 |
| Biology, General | $60,161 |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $60,158 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $56,411 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $56,282 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $53,618 |
| Sociology | $53,075 |
| Psychology, General | $52,264 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $52,106 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,480 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $47,052 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $46,021 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $41,122 |
| Music | $32,448 |
Median earnings for these 20 Elmhurst University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $61,462 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 39 additional Elmhurst University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Elmhurst University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 960–1210 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 73.6% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Elmhurst University's acceptance rate?
75.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 4,737 admitted from 6,254 applicants.
How much does Elmhurst University cost?
At Elmhurst University, published tuition is $42,955 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Elmhurst University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Elmhurst University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $61,462 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Illinois
- Eureka College — 85% admitted
- Eastern Illinois University — 65.3% admitted
- DePaul University — 75.9% admitted
- Fox College — 70.2% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.