Computer and Information Sciences at DeVry University-Illinois

With comparable computer science programs in Illinois typically producing first-year salaries around $57,000, DeVry's estimated debt load of nearly $49,000 creates a tighter financial picture than most families would want. The typical Illinois graduate in this field carries closer to $24,000 in debt—about half what DeVry students are projected to owe. That difference matters: while the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.86 isn't catastrophic, it means more years of loan payments and less flexibility in early career decisions.

The earnings estimate itself sits right at the state median, but that masks an important reality: programs with actual reported data in Illinois range from $61,000 at Illinois Institute of Technology to over $113,000 at U of I. DeVry's 65% Pell Grant population suggests it serves students who often can't afford to take on debt that doubles the state norm, regardless of what the earnings picture shows. When you're starting a tech career with payments on $49,000 in loans instead of $24,000, the difference between these scenarios becomes painfully clear.

Given that these figures are based on peer programs rather than DeVry's actual graduate outcomes, you're making a decision with significant uncertainty and substantially higher estimated debt than alternatives. Unless DeVry offers specific advantages that justify twice the typical borrowing, Illinois has multiple public options with stronger starting salaries and far less financial burden.