Social Sciences at National Louis University

National Louis University's social sciences bachelor's program serves a predominantly working-class student body—57% receive Pell grants—in one of the nation's most expensive cities. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates can expect to earn around $37,500 in their first year while carrying roughly $27,000 in debt. That 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in workable territory, meaning the typical graduate would dedicate about nine months of their first-year salary to paying off loans if they devoted every dollar to debt.

The challenge here isn't necessarily the debt load—it's actually slightly above the national median for social sciences programs—but rather what $37,500 buys you in Chicago. Housing, transportation, and basic living expenses in a major metro area will consume a much larger share of that income than they would elsewhere. Similar programs nationally produce the same earnings figure, but cost-of-living realities vary dramatically by location. For a student already stretching financially (as the high Pell percentage suggests), the gap between earnings and actual purchasing power deserves serious consideration.

The absence of reported outcomes data from any Illinois social sciences programs—including this one—makes direct in-state comparisons impossible. Your child would be betting on national patterns holding true at a school with open admissions serving students who often face additional financial pressures. If this degree leads to graduate school or specific career pathways your family has researched, that's one calculation. If it's an exploratory choice, the Chicago location adds financial pressure that similar programs in lower-cost areas wouldn't impose.