Judson University
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 780 students.
About This School
Judson University is a private nonprofit institution located in Elgin, Illinois with approximately 780 undergraduate students enrolled. Judson University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 63%. The average net price after financial aid is $25,027 per year. The graduation rate is 53%, and the typical graduate earns $47,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Judson University is a private Baptist university in Elgin, Illinois. It is affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA. Judson was formed out of the liberal arts component of Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. When the seminary moved from Chicago to Lombard, Illinois, it was decided to make the college separate from the seminary. Originally known as Judson College, it was named after Adoniram Judson, the first American Baptist missionary to foreign shores. The university has campuses in Elgin and Rockford, Illinois, and a student body of approximately 1,300. Judson College became Judson University on August 28, 2007.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: a 53% graduation rate means nearly half of students who start don't finish, and that's worth taking seriously before committing. On the positive side, median debt at graduation is a relatively low $14,000, and the Christian, liberal arts environment in the Chicago suburbs appeals to students who want a faith-integrated education in a small, close-knit setting (780 undergrads). Worth considering if you're confident in your fit with Baptist-affiliated campus culture and have a clear academic plan to stay on track — but students who need strong retention support or are prioritizing earnings potential (median is $47,200 at 10 years) should weigh their options carefully.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (780 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Public
DeVry University-Illinois
Lisle, IL · Private for-profit
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL · Public
Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL · Public
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.