Apparel and Textiles at Illinois State University

Illinois State's apparel and textiles program sits right in the middle nationally but punches above its weight within Illinois, where it ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings. First-year graduates earn $37,111—about $6,000 more than the state median of $31,179. That gap matters for Illinois residents choosing between in-state options, though it's worth noting only three schools in the state offer this major, limiting the comparison pool.

The debt picture requires more scrutiny. At $22,500, graduates carry less than the national median but still face a 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio. This means borrowers will owe more than half their first-year salary, which translates to roughly $250 monthly payments on a standard 10-year plan—a meaningful bite from a $37,000 income. The program sits in the 76th percentile nationally for debt, meaning three-quarters of similar programs saddle students with less borrowing.

For families weighing this degree, the math works better if your student can minimize loans through scholarships, family support, or part-time work. The earnings are solid enough to manage moderate debt, but there's little margin for error with borrowing at this level. If significant loans are unavoidable, understand that financial breathing room will be tight in those first years after graduation, even with above-average Illinois earnings.