Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Chicago State University

A health sciences bachelor's degree typically requires a significant investment, and when the debt burden reaches nearly $25,000—as estimates from peer programs suggest here—it's worth examining what kind of career launch that buys. Comparable programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $34,800, putting this squarely at the state median but below what graduates from some Chicago-area competitors achieve. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 isn't alarming, but it's not comfortable either when you're looking at starting pay in the mid-thirties.

The challenge with this particular program is that we're working with estimates derived from similar Illinois programs, not actual outcomes from Chicago State's graduates. What we can say is that health sciences degrees at this level nationally produce median earnings of about $35,300—so the Illinois benchmark tracks closely with broader patterns. For a school serving primarily Pell-eligible students (55% of the campus), that debt load becomes more consequential, especially if graduates need to remain in the Chicago area where cost of living can eat into modest starting salaries.

If your child is committed to health services and this program offers specific clinical partnerships or job placement support, those practical advantages matter more than estimated numbers. But given the uncertainty in these figures and the existence of nearby programs with documented outcomes above $40,000, you'd want concrete evidence—internship placements, employer relationships, licensure pass rates—before committing to this path.