Computer Science at Northeastern Illinois University

Northeastern Illinois University's Computer Science program delivers something increasingly rare: solid tech employment outcomes with minimal debt burden. Graduates earn $62,831 in their first year—less than Illinois' $71,355 median—but they're doing so with just $15,750 in debt, roughly 40% below what typical Illinois CS graduates carry. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 means graduates could theoretically clear their entire student loan balance in three months of pre-tax income, a scenario almost unheard of in higher education.

The earnings trajectory tells an encouraging story. Four years out, salaries jump to $78,244, a 25% increase that narrows the gap with state averages. While this won't match the six-figure starting salaries at U of I Urbana-Champaign or Northwestern, it reflects the reality of Chicago's tech market: plenty of developer jobs at mid-sized companies, fintech firms, and corporate IT departments that pay well without requiring elite credentials. For students from the 54% of families receiving Pell grants here, that combination of accessible admissions, manageable debt, and steady career growth into the upper-middle-class income bracket represents genuine economic mobility.

The tradeoff is straightforward—you're sacrificing about $10,000 in starting salary compared to the state median, but you're eliminating nearly $10,000 in debt and gaining access through a 70% admission rate. For families prioritizing financial security over prestige, particularly those paying in-state tuition, that's a calculation that favors Northeastern.