Business Administration, Management and Operations at Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois Tech's business program shows promising earnings growth but starts substantially behind both state and national averages—and the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers might not tell the full story. First-year earnings of $43,000 lag the Illinois median by about $3,400, placing graduates in just the 40th percentile statewide. More concerning is the gap with Illinois' top programs: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign grads earn 59% more right out of the gate. The manageable debt load of $25,197 is close to state and national norms, yielding a reasonable 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The 37% earnings jump to $59,000 by year four is genuinely strong and helps close some of the initial gap, suggesting graduates develop valuable skills or pivot into better opportunities over time. However, they're still earning less at that point than top Illinois programs pay fresh graduates. Given Tech's engineering focus and Chicago location, students might find better value in the school's STEM offerings where employer connections likely run deeper.

With fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, one or two outliers could significantly skew these figures either direction. If your child is set on business at Illinois Tech, verify current placement rates and alumni outcomes directly with the program. Otherwise, this data suggests looking at business programs where the school has a stronger track record—or considering Tech's core strengths instead.