Business/Commerce at DeVry University-Illinois

DeVry's Business/Commerce associate program produces first-year earnings of $43,716—nearly $7,000 above the national median and matching Illinois's state median. That's genuine earning power, placing graduates in the 82nd percentile nationally. However, students pay a steep premium to get there: median debt of $30,444 is more than double the national average for this degree and among the highest 11% of similar programs nationwide.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 means graduates face roughly eight months of pre-tax income in debt—manageable but significant given this is a two-year degree. DeVry serves a predominantly low-income population (65% receive Pell grants), which makes this debt load particularly concerning. While the earnings justify the credential better than many for-profit programs, families should know that comparable earnings outcomes might be achievable at Illinois community colleges for a fraction of the cost.

For students who need DeVry's flexible scheduling or have struggled in traditional academic settings, the strong earnings provide some reassurance. But anyone with access to a local community college should carefully compare total costs before committing—the earnings advantage here isn't large enough to justify doubling your debt burden.