Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians at DeVry University-Illinois

The small sample size here demands caution, but the available data suggests DeVry's electromechanical program performs respectably within a niche field. Starting at roughly $63,000 and climbing to $72,000 by year four represents solid growth for a technical bachelor's degree, though the debt load—ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of similar programs carry less debt—creates real financial pressure. That $52,000 in borrowing against first-year earnings yields a debt ratio of 0.83, workable but not comfortable for graduates who may face unexpected expenses or employment gaps in their early careers.

What's notable is the 60th percentile ranking among Illinois programs for this degree, though with only one IL school offering it, state comparisons tell us little. Nationally, the program sits exactly at the median for earnings, which means students here aren't gaining an advantage over graduates from the 47 other institutions nationwide. The 15% earnings bump over four years is encouraging, but that comes after starting with substantial debt that will likely take a decade to clear on a typical repayment schedule.

For families considering this path: the debt load is the central concern. If your child can reduce borrowing through scholarships, work-study, or living at home, the trajectory improves significantly. Without that debt reduction, you're looking at monthly loan payments that will claim a meaningful chunk of early-career earnings in a field where six figures aren't the norm.