Business Administration, Management and Operations at Illinois College

Illinois College graduates with business degrees earn roughly $8,500 less than the typical Illinois business graduate in their first year—landing in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a substantial gap in a state where public universities like Southern Illinois-Carbondale produce business grads earning $55,633, and top programs exceed $65,000. You're paying private school tuition for earnings that trail most in-state alternatives by 20-30%.

The $27,000 debt load sits near national norms, but paired with below-average earnings, it creates a tighter financial picture than parents should accept without scrutiny. A 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't disastrous, but it means nearly three-quarters of a year's salary goes toward educational debt—and that's before accounting for the slower earnings growth typical of graduates starting at $37,925. The 17th percentile national ranking suggests this program struggles to compete beyond Illinois borders too.

For families paying private college costs, this represents a questionable return. If your child is set on a smaller liberal arts environment, understand they'll likely start their career at a meaningful earnings disadvantage compared to graduates from Illinois' public universities. If career outcomes matter more than campus size, the state's larger institutions offer significantly stronger launching points for roughly the same debt burden.