International/Global Studies at DePaul University

DePaul's International/Global Studies certificate lands graduates at $41,636 their first year—just under the $43,014 national median but right at the Illinois median for this program. The catch? There's only one program in Illinois to compare against (this one), and with under 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift significantly with just a few data points. The 5th national earnings percentile sounds alarming until you realize it reflects a narrow spread across programs: even top earners nationally only make about $2,000 more annually.

The $23,989 debt load creates a manageable 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe about seven months of their first-year salary. That's reasonable compared to many bachelor's degrees, though for a certificate program specifically, families should consider whether this credential alone provides sufficient job market differentiation or if it's meant to complement a separate degree.

The real question is fit: are you paying for a standalone certificate or is this bundled with a broader DePaul education? If it's the former, $24,000 in debt for a credential that produces entry-level earnings deserves serious scrutiny. If it enhances an existing degree program, the math changes entirely. Given the tiny sample size, talk directly to DePaul's career services about what these graduates actually did after completion—the aggregate data here is too thin to rely on alone.