Economics at Bradley University

Bradley's economics program sits right at Illinois's median for both earnings and debt, suggesting a middle-of-the-road outcome among the state's 35 economics programs. Based on comparable Illinois programs, first-year earnings around $47,000 fall nearly $5,000 below the national median for economics degrees, though estimated debt of $24,000 comes in slightly below the national figure. That 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning roughly half a year's salary in loans—is manageable but unremarkable.

The challenge is the earnings gap. Top Illinois economics programs like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign ($59,000) and Wheaton College ($63,000) produce substantially higher starting salaries, suggesting Bradley graduates may face a steeper climb in their early careers. With a 77% admission rate and solid SAT scores, Bradley draws reasonably prepared students, yet peer program data indicates outcomes that don't dramatically exceed what you'd find at many state schools.

For a private university investment, you'd want Bradley's economics program to deliver more than typical Illinois outcomes—perhaps through strong Chicago-area connections or specialized industry placement. Since these figures are estimates drawn from similar programs rather than actual Bradley data, ask the department directly about recent graduate outcomes and where their economics majors actually land jobs. The debt level won't bury your child, but the earnings trajectory needs to justify choosing Bradley over less expensive alternatives.