Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at Aurora University

Based on comparable IT management programs in Illinois, graduates can expect first-year earnings around $60,000—right at the state median but well below what students achieve at nearby DePaul, where the same degree commands nearly $80,000. The estimated $27,000 debt load produces a manageable 0.45 ratio, meaning roughly five months of gross pay to cover what you borrowed. That's reasonable leverage for a tech credential, but the opportunity cost matters: if your child could gain admission to a stronger program (Aurora admits 85% of applicants), the earnings difference could be $20,000 annually from day one.

What concerns me is the lack of reported outcomes data—Aurora hasn't graduated enough students from this program for the Department of Education to publish actual figures. That raises questions about program scale and employer connections. In technology fields where internships and recruiting relationships drive early career success, a small cohort can mean fewer opportunities. Meanwhile, peer programs at Lewis and Rasmussen are producing similar outcomes with established track records.

The math works if this is your child's most realistic path into IT management and they'll graduate with debt near that $27,000 estimate. But if they're choosing Aurora over programs with proven placement records and similar costs, push them to articulate why. The degree opens doors, but in this field, the employer network attached to it matters as much as the credential itself.