Finance Degree in Elgin, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Finance degree analysis for Elgin, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$87K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Elgin
Cost of Living
79
index (100 = avg)
Finance in Elgin, IL Overview
Elgin, Illinois (pop. 114,797) has 13 colleges offering Finance programs. The local cost of living index of 79 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,008/month. Finance enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Financial Modeling and Valuation. The adjusted starting salary in Elgin is approximately $55,300, growing to $86,900 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,014/yr
Private Tuition
$30,900/yr
Room & Board
$9,983/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,897/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
47%
Finance Salary in Elgin (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Elgin's cost of living index of 79 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Finance salary: $70,000 starting, $110,000 mid-career, $145,000 senior level.Elgin adjustment factor: 0.79x based on the local cost of living index.
Finance ROI Calculator for Elgin
Estimate your return on investment for a Finance degree using local Elgin tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,014 | Private avg: $30,900
Elgin avg aid: $15,897/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$27,650
vs HS diploma in Elgin
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Elgin
$670,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($750,500) minus total education cost ($79,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Finance in Elgin
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Elgin for Finance
Judson University
private
$30,900/yr
$123,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Elgin Community College
$4,980/yr
Top Employers for Finance in Elgin
Elgin offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Finance graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Elgin Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Finance Job Titles
Finance in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$76K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$65K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$76K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$71K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$63K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Springfield, IL
$64K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$73K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$63K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Elgin
Business Analytics
$62K starting · 2 yr ROI
Economics
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$40K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$40K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$40K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$49K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$40K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$46K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Finance Degree in Elgin — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Finance ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Elgin.