Business Administration, Management and Operations at DePaul University

DePaul's business program starts graduates at $48,920—solidly above both the state median ($46,431) and national median ($45,703)—but what really stands out is the trajectory. By year four, earnings jump 29% to nearly $63,000, suggesting graduates gain valuable skills and credibility that translate into career advancement. Among Illinois business programs, this lands in the 60th percentile, respectable but notably behind the state's flagship universities where graduates start in the mid-to-high $60s.

The debt picture is reasonable: at $26,333, it's essentially on par with national and state norms for business degrees, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that most graduates should be able to manage within a few years. The 74% admission rate means access isn't a barrier, and with 31% of students on Pell grants, DePaul appears to serve a socioeconomically diverse population—an important consideration if your family needs financial aid options.

The bottom line: DePaul won't deliver the immediate salary bump of a University of Illinois degree, but it offers a solid middle-ground option in Chicago with earnings that grow meaningfully over time. If your child is looking at Chicago schools and considering schools like Loyola (where starting salaries are similar but four-year earnings reach $64K), this is competitive. The robust sample size means these numbers are reliable, making this a predictable investment rather than a gamble.