Economics at Monmouth College

Monmouth College's economics graduates earn $47,048 in their first year—exactly the state median for Illinois economics programs, though well below the national median of $51,722. What this really means is that they're competing with graduates from powerhouse programs like University of Chicago ($92,075) and Northwestern ($84,932) while earning closer to what typical Illinois programs produce. The 31st percentile national ranking confirms this isn't a standout program for launching high earners, though being at the 60th percentile within Illinois suggests it holds its own against in-state competition beyond the elite tier.

The estimated debt of $23,717, based on comparable IL programs at similar institutions, produces a manageable 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary. That's better than the typical economics graduate nationally (who carries $22,816 in debt against higher earnings), making the financial burden more proportionate to what Monmouth students can expect to earn. With an 87% admission rate and average SAT around 1128, this isn't attracting the same student caliber as top programs, which likely explains some of the earnings gap.

For a family considering this program: you're looking at middle-of-the-pack outcomes with below-average debt. If your child isn't likely to gain admission to Illinois's elite economics programs, Monmouth delivers comparable results to most state options without crushing debt. Just understand they'll need to work harder to reach the earnings levels that graduates from top-tier programs command immediately.