Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Chicago State University

Chicago State's nursing program graduates owe nearly double what's typical—$51,937 versus the $27,000 median in Illinois—but at least earnings recover substantially over time. Starting at $63,869, graduates see their income climb 28% to reach $81,928 by year four, which ultimately lands near the state median. That trajectory suggests the program adequately prepares nurses for career advancement, even if initial placement lags behind competitors like Chamberlain ($83,188) or Governors State ($80,391).

The debt burden is the real concern here. At 0.81 times first-year earnings, new graduates face manageable but elevated payments compared to peers at other Illinois nursing programs who typically borrow half as much. Given that 55% of Chicago State students receive Pell grants, many families are already stretching financially. The fourth-year earnings of nearly $82,000 do improve the debt-to-income picture considerably, but those first few years of loan payments will be tighter than at schools with similar outcomes and lower borrowing.

If your child has already been admitted to Chicago State and plans to stay in the Chicago area where the program appears to have decent placement, the eventual earnings make this workable. However, if they're also considering other Illinois nursing programs with comparable admission standards, compare the financial aid packages carefully—the extra $25,000 in debt here isn't offset by meaningfully higher earnings down the road.