Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degree) at Northern Illinois University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$54,802

55th percentile

60th percentile in Illinois

Median Debt

$19,500

16% below national median

Analysis

Northern Illinois University's finance program punches above its weight for an institution with a 70% admission rate, landing graduates in the 60th percentile for Illinois—a state dominated by Chicago's financial services industry. With first-year earnings of $54,802 and healthy 22% growth to nearly $67,000 by year four, graduates are outearning the state median while carrying significantly less debt than typical Illinois finance majors ($19,500 vs. $23,912 statewide).

The debt picture is particularly favorable. At just 36% of first-year earnings, student loans are manageable even if graduates don't land in Chicago's higher-paying finance roles immediately. This is a real advantage for a program serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (46%). While top programs like U of I Urbana-Champaign place graduates at $75,000, they also typically come with higher price tags and more competitive admissions.

The moderate sample size means year-to-year outcomes could vary, but the fundamentals are solid: reasonable debt, above-average earnings for Illinois, and consistent growth trajectory. For families prioritizing affordability alongside access to legitimate finance careers—especially those considering public universities—this represents a sensible path into the field without the debt burden that often accompanies it.

Where Northern Illinois University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all finance and financial management services bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Northern Illinois University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Northern Illinois University	$54,802	$66,930	+22%
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign	$75,381	$99,685	+32%
Loyola University Chicago	$66,919	$84,622	+26%
DePaul University	$66,863	$79,506	+19%
Elmhurst University	$57,171	$78,675	+38%

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Finance and Financial Management Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (31 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb	$12,700	$54,802	$66,930	$19,500	0.36
University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign	$16,004	$75,381	$99,685	$19,500	0.26
Loyola University ChicagoChicago	$51,716	$66,919	$84,622	$24,988	0.37
DePaul UniversityChicago	$44,460	$66,863	$79,506	$23,000	0.34
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington	$55,704	$62,619	$77,596	$26,000	0.42
Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest	$54,202	$61,264	$72,661	$27,000	0.44
National Median	—	$53,590	—	$23,332	0.44

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with finance and financial management services graduates

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Personal Financial Advisors

Advise clients on financial plans using knowledge of tax and investment strategies, securities, insurance, pension plans, and real estate. Duties include assessing clients' assets, liabilities, cash flow, insurance coverage, tax status, and financial objectives. May also buy and sell financial assets for clients.

$102,140/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial and Investment Analysts

Conduct quantitative analyses of information involving investment programs or financial data of public or private institutions, including valuation of businesses.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Budget Analysts

Examine budget estimates for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with procedures and regulations. Analyze budgeting and accounting reports.

$87,930/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Insurance Underwriters

Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.

$79,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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 Northern Illinois University, approximately 46% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 95 graduates with reported earnings and 84 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.