Architectural Sciences and Technology at Illinois Institute of Technology

Starting at under $38,000 per year—roughly $20,000 below the national median for architectural sciences programs—should worry any parent considering IIT's program, especially given the $31,000 in debt most students carry. While the small sample size means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, the pattern is stark: graduates earn less than 95% of their peers nationally despite taking on above-average debt. Even within Illinois, where architectural sciences earnings run lower than the national average, this program sits barely at the state median.

The 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio means students owe nearly a full year's salary, which translates to financially strained early career years. Compare this to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where architecture graduates start about $3,000 higher—not a huge difference, but meaningful when you're already earning well below national benchmarks. Given IIT's 55% admission rate and solid SAT averages, families might reasonably expect stronger outcomes.

With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could reflect a particularly rough cohort rather than a systemic problem. But until better data emerges, the current picture suggests this program struggles to deliver competitive market outcomes. Parents should ask pointed questions about job placement rates, employer connections, and whether graduates are working in architecture-related roles that justify the investment.