Human Services at Judson University

Judson's Human Services program places graduates slightly above both national and Illinois medians for earnings, but the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these figures could shift considerably year to year. At 60th percentile among Illinois programs, it's ahead of larger schools like Northern Illinois University but trails Rasmussen's Illinois campuses by about $2,500 in starting salary.

The real concern isn't the debt load, which at $34,455 translates to roughly $380 in monthly payments—manageable on a $37,000 salary. It's the earnings trajectory: graduates see income drop 7% between years one and four, falling to $35,151. This backward slide is unusual and worth investigating. It could reflect career paths where early momentum doesn't translate to advancement, or it might be a data quirk given the limited sample.

For parents weighing this investment, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 is reasonable for human services work, which rarely commands high salaries but offers stable employment. However, the declining earnings pattern suggests graduates may need additional credentials or strategic career moves to see income growth. Given the small cohort tracked here, request placement data and talk to recent alumni about their career progressions before committing. This program appears serviceable but not exceptional within Illinois's human services landscape.