Business Administration, Management and Operations at College of DuPage

College of DuPage's business associate's program produces first-year earnings of $46,497—substantially above the national median of $34,000 and right in line with Illinois's higher-earning market. The $12,000 median debt translates to a manageable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates earn back their loans in roughly three months. Among over 1,300 programs nationally, this ranks in the 95th percentile for earnings, though within Illinois it's more middle-of-the-pack at the 60th percentile, trailing programs like William Rainey Harper College that approach $60,000.

The key limitation here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, which means these figures could shift considerably with a larger cohort. That said, the debt burden is low regardless, and even if earnings dipped somewhat, the fundamental math still works. The bigger question is whether your child can access the higher-earning outcomes that some Illinois community colleges deliver, or if they'll land closer to this program's solid but unspectacular state ranking.

For an associate's degree, this represents a reasonable investment with minimal financial risk. The debt load won't constrain future choices, and the earnings clearly exceed national norms for this credential. Just recognize that within Illinois's competitive community college landscape, there may be stronger options depending on location and program fit.