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Elmhurst, IL · Private · 3,006 undergraduates · suburban

Elmhurst University

Less selective

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Elmhurst’s close-in suburban location gives students a traditional campus and easy access to Chicago.

Campus image / Publicly hosted campus image

Institutional profile

Well established Strong in mobility, and solid in career outcomes.
Academic Steady Affordability Solid Career Solid Mobility Strong Experience Solid
Academic standing Steady
Affordability Solid
Career outcomes Solid
Mobility Strong
Student experience Solid
Admission
75.7% admitted

6,254 applicants in the reported year

Price by income
Varies across five income ranges

Compare recent average annual costs by household income

Completion
70.1%

$61,462 median earnings 10 years after enrollment

What sets Elmhurst University apart

Academic design

The university offers more than 70 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, with hands-on projects and study abroad built into many fields. Programs range from arts and sciences to business, nursing and education.

Campus pattern

The campus is in walkable Elmhurst, a western suburb connected to downtown Chicago by commuter rail. Students can maintain a residential campus routine while using Chicago for internships, museums, hospitals and employers.

Defining feature

Elmhurst’s close-in suburban location gives students a traditional campus and easy access to Chicago.

Can I get in?

75.7% admitted

Start with academic preparation, then show why this particular academic and campus environment fits you.

Recent applicant pool

6,254

About 76 in every 100 applicants were admitted.

Admission rate 75.7%
Entering class

Academic range

SAT middle 50%960–1210
8001360
ACT middle 50%23–28
2031

Of admitted students, 17% submitted an SAT, and 4% submitted an ACT. Scores were rare in this class, so the SAT and ACT ranges say more about who volunteered one than about who was admitted.

Entered with a 4.0 GPA30%

In the season card

Where your GPA sits in the entering class

The full entering-class GPA distribution for Elmhurst University, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.

See where I land

In the season card

What Elmhurst University weighs when it reads a file

See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.

  • Course rigor  
  • GPA  
  • Test scores  
  • Essay  
  • Recommendations  
  • Extracurriculars  
  • Demonstrated interest  
See what counts here

What moves the application

The evidence that separates a strong file

01

Show preparation for this curriculum

The university offers more than 70 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, with hands-on projects and study abroad built into many fields. Programs range from arts and sciences to business, nursing and education.

02

Make the fit specific

Elmhurst’s close-in suburban location gives students a traditional campus and easy access to Chicago.

03

Account for the tradeoff

Keep academic direction and school-specific choices coherent across the application.

How to apply

Rounds, route, and required materials

Build the calendar around the earliest realistic application round and make the school-specific case concrete.

Early ActionNov 15
Regular Decisionrolling
Fee and waiverNo application fee

Check eligibility for a fee waiver

Major and program admission

Some fields have their own entry path.

The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.

BusinessAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Teacher preparationAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

NursingAdmits separately

What this program asks for, and when it closes.

Can I afford it?

Compare annual cost by household income.

Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.

Published annual cost$64,950
Average annual cost after aid$24,000
Affordability profileSolid

In the season card

Average annual cost by household income at Elmhurst University

Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.

  • $0–30k 
  • $30–48k 
  • $48–75k 
  • $75–110k 
  • $110k+ 
Open the price by income

Is it worth it?

Completion, debt, and earnings

Elmhurst’s close-in suburban location gives students a traditional campus and easy access to Chicago.

Complete within 8 years70.1%

Degree completion across the reported entering cohort

Return after year one77.9%

First-year students who return for year two

Median federal debtWhat students owe on the way out

And what that comes to against what they earn.

Median earnings$61,462

Reported 10 years after enrollment

Academic portfolio

Largest bachelor’s fields

How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.

Psychology, General

Recent graduates88
Median earnings$52,264

What is campus life like?

Elmhurst University beyond the classroom

The campus is in walkable Elmhurst, a western suburb connected to downtown Chicago by commuter rail. Students can maintain a residential campus routine while using Chicago for internships, museums, hospitals and employers.

Academics

A defining academic feature

The university offers more than 70 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, with hands-on projects and study abroad built into many fields. Programs range from arts and sciences to business, nursing and education.

Campus setting

What shapes an ordinary week

The campus is in walkable Elmhurst, a western suburb connected to downtown Chicago by commuter rail. Students can maintain a residential campus routine while using Chicago for internships, museums, hospitals and employers.

Distinctive edge

What changes the experience

Elmhurst’s close-in suburban location gives students a traditional campus and easy access to Chicago.

3,006 undergraduatesMidwestsuburban settingCampus housing available