Health and Medical Administrative Services at DePaul University

Similar health administration programs in Illinois suggest first-year earnings around $46,000—a modest start given that DePaul's estimated debt of $28,000 would require about seven months of gross income to repay. This debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 sits in manageable territory, but the earnings figure reveals something more concerning: it lands at the Illinois median while DePaul's tuition runs considerably higher than many state schools offering the same credential.

The gap between DePaul and top-performing programs is substantial. Graduates from University of St. Francis and Concordia earn $65,000 to $83,000 in their first year—nearly double what comparable programs at DePaul's price point typically produce. Even Loyola, another Chicago private university, shows outcomes 25% higher. This suggests the healthcare administration job market in Illinois rewards specific institutional connections or program features that this estimate doesn't capture.

For a parent weighing a $28,000 debt load, the key question is whether DePaul's specific program has employer relationships or curriculum advantages that would push its graduates above the state median. Without actual outcome data for this program, you're essentially betting on DePaul's general reputation to move the needle in a field where other schools demonstrably achieve better results.