Health and Medical Administrative Services at DeVry University-Illinois

DeVry's health administration associate's degree commands a premium price—graduates carry nearly $38,000 in debt, about 65% more than the national median for this program and 25% above the Illinois average. That's a significant financial burden for a program where first-year earnings of $37,750 barely exceed the debt load. While these earnings outperform 81% of similar programs nationally, within Illinois this program ranks only in the 60th percentile, trailing Rasmussen's comparable offering by about $1,600 annually.

The earnings trajectory raises additional concerns. Four years out, median pay actually dips slightly to $37,077—essentially flat growth when inflation is eroding real purchasing power. For context, community colleges in Illinois offer similar programs at a fraction of the cost. Harper College and Joliet Junior College graduates earn comparably or slightly less, but they're doing so with far lower debt burdens that make the economics more sustainable.

The calculation here is straightforward: you're paying private university prices for outcomes that, while solid on a national scale, don't justify the debt premium in Illinois's competitive landscape. The 65% Pell grant rate suggests many families are stretching financially for this credential. Unless DeVry offers specific career network advantages that matter to your family, the public college alternatives deliver better value for healthcare administration training.