Information Science/Studies at DePaul University

DePaul's Information Science program places graduates right at Illinois' median starting salary of $60,468, which sounds unremarkable until you consider the alternative: Northwestern's $103,000 outcomes come with brutal admissions and likely higher debt, while DePaul's 74% acceptance rate makes this field accessible to far more students. The debt load of $25,916 is slightly above the state median but remains manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, and earnings climb nearly 20% to $72,000 by year four—solid growth that suggests the degree opens doors rather than trapping graduates in entry-level positions.

However, the sample size here is troublingly small (under 30 graduates), which means a few outliers could be skewing these numbers in either direction. The 60th percentile ranking among Illinois programs is decent but not stellar—you're paying private school tuition for middle-of-the-pack outcomes in a state where public universities like UIC deliver nearly identical starting salaries.

For families who can afford DePaul without excessive borrowing, this looks reasonable—the debt is moderate and the earnings trajectory is positive. But if your child qualifies for a public university's in-state tuition, the math gets harder to justify unless DePaul's Chicago location and industry connections matter significantly for their career goals. The accessible admissions make this a viable backup option, but not necessarily the first choice for cost-conscious families.