Computer Science at Elmhurst University

Computer science students at Elmhurst land solidly in the middle of the pack, earning $72,910 their first year out—above both state and national medians for the degree. That's a meaningful premium over the typical CS graduate in Illinois ($71,355) and puts them ahead of 60% of comparable programs statewide. With estimated debt around $26,000 based on similar Illinois programs, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 suggests graduates should be able to manage repayment comfortably on a tech salary.

The gap with Illinois's elite programs is substantial—University of Illinois grads earn $124,530, nearly 70% more—but Elmhurst's open-door admissions (76% acceptance rate) and reasonable debt load position it as an accessible entry point into tech careers. For students who might not gain admission to selective programs or who prefer a smaller campus environment, these outcomes represent legitimate launching pads into software development, IT, or related fields where first-year earnings in the low-$70s can grow quickly with experience.

The key uncertainty here is that debt figure, which comes from peer institutions rather than Elmhurst's actual computer science graduates. If your child would need to borrow significantly more than $26,000, recalculate that ratio carefully. But if the debt estimate holds, this program delivers what matters most: enough earning power to pay off loans without financial strain while building a career in a field with strong long-term prospects.