Engineering (Bachelor's Degree) at Illinois Institute of Technology

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$67,911

Est. from national median (47 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$26,459

Est. from national median (24 programs)

Analysis

Comparable engineering bachelor's programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $68,000 with debt near $26,500—numbers that produce a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, well within the manageable range for STEM graduates. Illinois Tech admits about half its applicants with solid SAT scores averaging nearly 1300, positioning it as a selective technical institution where engineering is a core strength. For context, other Illinois engineering programs cluster around $66,000 in starting salaries, placing these peer-based estimates slightly above the state norm.

The estimated debt load aligns closely with both state and national medians for engineering degrees, which matters because engineering graduates typically see strong salary growth in their first decade of work. A debt burden under $27,000 against nearly $68,000 in first-year earnings suggests monthly loan payments that shouldn't crowd out other financial goals, assuming these estimates hold for Illinois Tech specifically.

The challenge here is straightforward: without reported outcomes from this specific program, you're betting on Illinois Tech's engineering reputation matching what similar programs deliver elsewhere. The fundamentals look sound—the school is purpose-built for technical education, the estimated numbers suggest typical engineering economics, and the projected debt-to-earnings picture is healthy. But you'll want to dig into Illinois Tech's actual placement rates and employer connections to confirm these peer-program estimates translate to real outcomes for their graduates.

Where Illinois Institute of Technology Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all engineering bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Engineering bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (10 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago	$51,763	$67,911*	—	$26,459*	—
Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais	$37,940	$66,394*	$79,322	$27,000*	0.41
Western Illinois UniversityMacomb	$14,952	$66,112*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$67,911*	—	$26,056*	0.38

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with engineering graduates

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Engineers, All Other

All engineers not listed separately.

Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar

Design, develop, or evaluate energy-related projects or programs to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the designing, building, or remodeling stages of construction. May specialize in electrical systems; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems; green buildings; lighting; air quality; or energy procurement.

Mechatronics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test automation, intelligent systems, smart devices, or industrial systems control.

Microsystems Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices.

Photonics Engineers

Design technologies specializing in light information or light energy, such as laser or fiber optics technology.

Robotics Engineers

Research, design, develop, or test robotic applications.

Nanosystems Engineers

Design, develop, or supervise the production of materials, devices, or systems of unique molecular or macromolecular composition, applying principles of nanoscale physics and electrical, chemical, or biological engineering.

Wind Energy Engineers

Design underground or overhead wind farm collector systems and prepare and develop site specifications.

Solar Energy Systems Engineers

Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Illinois Institute of Technology, approximately 29% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 47 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.