Human Services at Rasmussen University-Illinois

Rasmussen's Human Services graduates earn more than three-quarters of their peers nationally, bringing home $40,125 in their first year—significantly above both the national median of $36,630 and Illinois's state median of $35,198. In fact, these graduates out-earn every other Human Services program in Illinois, including established state universities. For a school serving a predominantly lower-income student body (63% receive Pell grants), these outcomes suggest the program is opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.

The catch is cost. At $46,312, graduates carry about 50% more debt than the typical Human Services bachelor's holder nationally. That debt load translates to a 1.15 ratio against first-year earnings—manageable but not comfortable, especially in a helping profession where salary growth can be gradual. With 100+ graduates in the data set, these numbers are reliable, not flukes.

For families weighing this investment, the calculation hinges on alternatives. If your child can access one of Illinois's cheaper public options, the debt difference matters. But if those pathways aren't available—due to admission barriers, location constraints, or scheduling needs—Rasmussen's premium price buys measurably better outcomes than every other Human Services program in the state. The debt is real, but so is the earnings advantage.