Legal Support Services at Rasmussen University-Illinois

Rasmussen's legal support program sits right at the national median for earnings, but here's the problem: Illinois has a notably stronger market for paralegals and legal assistants, and this program underperforms the state median by nearly $6,000 annually. Among the 24 Illinois schools offering this credential, Rasmussen ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable programs in the state deliver better outcomes. Community colleges like Southwestern Illinois College match the state median of $43,000 while charging significantly less in debt.

The debt picture compounds the concern. At $27,876, graduates carry more debt than the national median ($25,166) and substantially more than the Illinois median ($20,368). With first-year earnings of $34,421, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 means you're borrowing nearly a full year's salary for a credential that should be far more affordable. Modest earnings growth to $37,112 by year four helps, but doesn't fundamentally change the value equation.

For families considering this program, the calculus is straightforward: there are better options within Illinois that will position your child more competitively in the state's legal services market while requiring less borrowed money. If Rockford's location is essential, that might justify the tradeoff, but otherwise this program asks students to pay more for below-average outcomes in their home state.