Location: Rock Island, IL•In-State Tuition: $49,834•Admission Rate: 68%•Avg SAT: 1133
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$43,320
Est. from IL median (23 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,509
Est. from IL median (14 programs)

Analysis

The $24,509 in estimated debt sits right at the national median for marketing programs, but the earnings picture based on comparable Illinois programs is more complicated. Similar marketing degrees across Illinois typically produce first-year earnings around $43,320, which tracks closely with the national median of $44,728. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 suggests manageable repayment—roughly half a year's salary in total student loans—but the real question is whether Augustana's liberal arts environment justifies its cost when other Illinois programs show stronger outcomes.

The gap between peer programs is striking: Illinois' top marketing programs report first-year earnings ranging from $51,000 to nearly $70,000, considerably higher than the state median this estimate draws from. Whether that difference reflects the specific networks, curriculum, or geographic placement of those programs versus the broader Illinois market isn't clear from the data, but it's worth investigating what distinguishes the stronger performers.

For an anxious parent, the fundamental challenge is making a significant financial commitment based on estimates rather than this school's actual track record. The debt level appears reasonable, and the estimated earnings align with typical marketing outcomes nationally. But before writing the tuition check, you'd want to understand where Augustana's marketing graduates actually land—their employers, their starting salaries, their career trajectories—information the college itself should be able to provide even when federal data can't.

Where Augustana College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all marketing bachelors's programs nationally

Augustana College (estimated ±10%)Other marketing programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Marketing bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (37 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Augustana CollegeRock Island$49,834$43,320*—$24,509*—
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign$16,004$69,273*$78,864$20,000*0.29
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington$55,704$56,684*——*—
Illinois State UniversityNormal$16,021$51,687*$63,704$20,500*0.40
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb$12,700$51,137*$59,336$23,875*0.47
Loyola University ChicagoChicago$51,716$51,065*$73,410$25,000*0.49
National Median—$44,728*—$24,267*0.54
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with marketing graduates

Advertising and Promotions Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate advertising policies and programs or produce collateral materials, such as posters, contests, coupons, or giveaways, to create extra interest in the purchase of a product or service for a department, an entire organization, or on an account basis.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Marketing Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate marketing policies and programs, such as determining the demand for products and services offered by a firm and its competitors, and identify potential customers. Develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the firm's profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm's customers are satisfied. Oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

$159,660/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraising Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.

$132,870/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Web and Digital Interface Designers

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Video Game Designers

Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.

$95,380/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists

Research conditions in local, regional, national, or online markets. Gather information to determine potential sales of a product or service, or plan a marketing or advertising campaign. May gather information on competitors, prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. May employ search marketing tactics, analyze web metrics, and develop recommendations to increase search engine ranking and visibility to target markets.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Search Marketing Strategists

Employ search marketing tactics to increase visibility and engagement with content, products, or services in Internet-enabled devices or interfaces. Examine search query behaviors on general or specialty search engines or other Internet-based content. Analyze research, data, or technology to understand user intent and measure outcomes for ongoing optimization.

$76,950/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Fundraisers

Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.

$66,490/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Augustana College, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 23 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.