Marketing at Olivet Nazarene University

Olivet Nazarene's marketing program lands squarely in the middle tier among Illinois schools—outperforming the state median but well behind top programs. With first-year earnings of $40,829, graduates start about $2,500 below the Illinois average and $4,000 below the national benchmark. Among 37 Illinois marketing programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, trailing schools like Illinois State and Northern Illinois by roughly $10,000 annually. The positive signal here is debt management: at $27,000, it's only slightly above state and national medians, and the 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than eight months' salary—manageable territory.

The earnings trajectory offers some reassurance. Graduates see 33% income growth by year four, reaching $54,204, which narrows the gap with stronger programs. This suggests the degree provides a foundation for career progression, even if the initial placement isn't competitive with larger state universities. For families weighing cost against outcomes, the math works if your student receives substantial financial aid or comes from a context where Olivet's Christian environment adds meaningful value beyond the earnings data.

The takeaway: This program won't position your child at the front of the Illinois marketing job market, but it won't bury them in debt either. If choosing between Olivet and a comparable private school with similar debt but weaker outcomes, this is defensible. If comparing to Illinois State or Northern Illinois at in-state tuition, those represent stronger value propositions for pure career ROI.