Est. Earnings (1yr)
$68,285
Est. from IL median (4 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,581
Est. from national median (28 programs)

Analysis

Is a Management Information Systems degree from Millikin worth $26,581 in borrowing? The estimated debt figure sits above both the state and national medians for this field, while first-year earnings based on comparable Illinois programs appear solid at $68,285. That puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.39—meaning graduates would owe roughly five months of their first-year salary. The four-year earnings jump to $83,239 suggests healthy income growth, though this trajectory isn't guaranteed for Millikin's specific program.

The real question is whether Millikin delivers outcomes closer to DePaul and Loyola (around $68K) or Illinois State ($53K)—a gap that would dramatically affect whether the estimated debt load makes sense. Millikin's 54% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores place it somewhere in the middle of Illinois's competitive landscape, but without actual graduate outcomes, you're making an educated guess based on peer programs. The estimated $26,581 debt becomes much more manageable if earnings land near the state median, but considerably less attractive if they fall toward the lower end of the range.

Given the uncertainty, this program makes most sense for students who have strong reasons to choose Millikin specifically—campus fit, scholarship offers, or career services that could boost placement outcomes. The fundamentals of MIS degrees are generally sound, but you're paying a premium compared to state median debt without concrete proof of what Millikin's graduates actually earn.

Where Millikin University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all management information systems and services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Millikin University$83,239
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign$77,572$96,374+24%
Loyola University Chicago$67,801$92,499+36%
DePaul University$68,769$86,686+26%
Illinois State University$52,887$79,687+51%

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Management Information Systems and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (19 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Millikin UniversityDecatur$26,892$68,285*$83,239$26,581*
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign$16,004$77,572*$96,374$19,500*0.25
DePaul UniversityChicago$44,460$68,769*$86,686$24,016*0.35
Loyola University ChicagoChicago$51,716$67,801*$92,499$24,500*0.36
Illinois State UniversityNormal$16,021$52,887*$79,687$16,250*0.31
National Median$59,490*$24,000*0.40
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with management information systems and services graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Database Architects

Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow. Integrate new systems with existing warehouse structure and refine system performance and functionality.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Warehousing Specialists

Design, model, or implement corporate data warehousing activities. Program and configure warehouses of database information and provide support to warehouse users.

$123,100/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in computer science. May specialize in a field of computer science, such as the design and function of computers or operations and research analysis. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
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 Millikin University, approximately 35% 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 median of 4 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.