Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at DePaul University

DePaul's Peace Studies program graduates earn nearly $8,500 less than the national median for this field—a significant gap that places them in the 5th percentile nationally. However, the Illinois context tells a more nuanced story: with only two schools offering this degree in-state, DePaul actually sits at the state median. The $26,000 debt load is reasonable at 0.80 times first-year earnings, though starting at $32,500 means tight budgets in expensive Chicago even without loan payments.

The real caution here isn't just the numbers but their reliability. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a handful of students pursuing lower-paying service work could skew the entire picture. This matters because peace studies graduates often pursue diverse paths—some in nonprofits earning modest salaries, others in corporate diversity roles or graduate programs that lead to stronger earnings. Small samples can't capture that range.

For parents considering this investment, the question is whether your child has a clear plan beyond the bachelor's degree. Many successful peace studies graduates use it as a stepping stone to law school, international relations, or organizational development roles where earnings climb substantially. Without that next step, though, the immediate financial return looks challenging—particularly compared to other DePaul programs where $32,500 would typically be entry-level baseline rather than the ceiling.