Finance and Financial Management Services at Lewis University

Lewis University's finance program shows warning signs that should make families think twice, particularly given the weak positioning within Illinois. Graduates earn $52,742 in their first year—landing in just the 40th percentile among Illinois finance programs and trailing the state median by over $1,000. More concerning, this falls below the national median as well. In a state where comparable programs at DePaul and Loyola produce graduates earning $66,000+, Lewis graduates face a substantial earnings gap right out of the gate.

The debt picture offers some relief at $25,688, which sits below both state and national medians and translates to a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, the real question is whether families should accept below-median earnings to gain below-median debt, especially when stronger Illinois programs don't necessarily saddle students with proportionally higher loans. The admission rate of 73% and modest SAT averages suggest this isn't a highly selective program, which may explain the earnings gap.

The critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. Still, for families prioritizing finance career prospects, the consistent underperformance compared to state peers—particularly schools like Illinois Wesleyan and Lake Forest that aren't dramatically more selective—suggests exploring other Illinois options first. The modest debt advantage doesn't compensate for starting a finance career $14,000+ behind competitors from stronger programs.