Marketing at Elmhurst University

Elmhurst's marketing graduates start slow but accelerate quickly—first-year earnings of $40,074 lag behind both the Illinois median ($43,320) and the national average ($44,728), placing the program in just the 22nd percentile nationally. However, by year four, earnings jump to $68,938, a 72% increase that suggests graduates either develop valuable skills over time or successfully pivot into better-paying roles. This trajectory is unusual for marketing programs and worth understanding more deeply.

The modest $19,000 debt load is significantly lower than both state and national medians (around $24,000), which helps offset the initial earnings gap. Still, starting at $40,000 in the Chicago metro area—where cost of living runs high—means tight budgets in those early years. The program ranks at the 40th percentile within Illinois, meaning there are clearly stronger options in-state, including Illinois State and Northern Illinois, where graduates earn above $51,000 from the start.

The real question is whether that impressive earnings growth reflects the program's strength or simply the normal career progression of motivated graduates who would have succeeded anywhere. If your child is patient and can manage lower initial pay, the combination of manageable debt and strong four-year outcomes makes this workable. But families prioritizing immediate post-graduation earnings should look at higher-ranked Illinois programs that deliver from day one.