Mathematics at DePaul University

DePaul's math graduates earn substantially more than the national average, though this comes at a premium compared to other Illinois options. At $55,586 in year one, graduates outpace the national median by $7,000 and rank in the 76th percentile nationally. However, within Illinois, this program sits in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile—earning more than state peers but trailing significantly behind University of Chicago and Northwestern grads who earn $100K and $80K respectively.

The debt load tells a more favorable story: at $26,154, DePaul charges about $5,500 more than the state median but keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.47. This is roughly six months of starting salary, which most graduates can handle. The 36% earnings jump to $75,420 by year four suggests these grads are finding solid career traction, likely in Chicago's finance, tech, and analytics sectors.

For families considering in-state alternatives, this becomes a value calculation. You're paying moderately more than Illinois State (which has similar year-one earnings) but getting access to DePaul's Chicago location and employer networks. If your child can secure admission to University of Chicago or Northwestern, those programs deliver dramatically higher returns. But among accessible math programs in Illinois—DePaul admits three-quarters of applicants—this offers above-average outcomes with debt that won't derail your child's financial future.