Health Professions at DePaul University

A projected debt load of $27,000 against first-year earnings near $38,500 puts this program roughly in line with what similar Health Professions bachelor's programs produce nationally. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 suggests graduates could manage repayment within standard timelines, though these figures come from peer programs rather than DePaul's specific track record. The earnings estimate matches the national median exactly, which offers some reassurance but also means this program isn't likely positioning graduates for the higher-earning health roles that push closer to $48,000.

What's harder to gauge is how DePaul's Chicago location factors in. The limited data from Illinois programs—with Bradley reporting notably lower earnings around $28,000—suggests significant variation within the state. DePaul's stronger academic profile (SAT scores above 1250) and urban setting might translate to better clinical placement opportunities than the state median implies, but without actual outcomes data, that remains speculative. Healthcare hiring in Chicago is robust, yet this Health Professions degree is notably broad and may not lead to the same immediate earning power as specialized nursing or allied health credentials.

The upshot: if your student is targeting a specific healthcare career path, verify whether this general degree actually opens those doors or if a more targeted program elsewhere would serve better. The estimated numbers suggest manageable debt but unremarkable earnings—fine if the degree leads somewhere specific, risky if it's exploratory.