Security Science and Technology at Loyola University Chicago

At $51,202 in first-year earnings, this program significantly outpaces the national median for Security Science and Technology bachelor's degrees, which sits at just $39,252. That's an 88th percentile performance nationally—a meaningful advantage. The estimated $27,000 in debt (derived from comparable programs at Loyola) translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, which falls comfortably within the range most financial advisors consider manageable for a four-year degree.

The caveat parents should understand: Illinois only has four schools offering this program, and none report granular debt data publicly, so we're looking at national benchmarks from similar institutions to estimate what Loyola graduates might owe. The earnings figure itself is solid—it places at the state median—but it's worth noting that "Security Science and Technology" can mean different things at different schools, from cybersecurity to physical security management to intelligence analysis. What matters is whether Loyola's specific curriculum aligns with employers your child wants to work for.

The practical takeaway: first-year earnings of $51K against $27K in debt gives your child breathing room that many bachelor's degrees don't provide. The strong national earnings ranking suggests employers value this credential, though you'll want to verify that Loyola's program specifically emphasizes the security specialization (cyber, intelligence, physical systems) your child intends to pursue.