Business/Commerce at Roosevelt University

For a Chicago business degree, comparable programs in Illinois suggest starting earnings around $45,000—squarely at the state median but trailing the national benchmark by about $2,500. The estimated debt load of roughly $27,000 creates a workable 0.60 ratio, meaning graduates would owe about seven months of first-year income. That's manageable on paper, though it assumes consistent employment in a competitive job market where Roosevelt's open-admission profile may not carry the same networking advantages as more selective business schools.

The comparison to peer programs is telling. DeVry graduates—admittedly a different student population with more technical focus—start at $57,000, nearly 27% higher than the Illinois median this program mirrors. Even other accessible options like Northeastern Illinois match these estimated figures while potentially offering stronger Chicago business community connections. With 46% of Roosevelt students on Pell grants, many families are already stretching financially, making that $27,000 debt figure more burdensome than it appears for middle-income borrowers.

The bottom line: these estimates suggest Roosevelt's business program delivers middle-of-the-pack outcomes at middle-of-the-pack cost. It's neither a bargain nor a trap, but given the lack of actual graduate data from this specific program, you're essentially betting on whether Roosevelt can match what similar Illinois schools achieve—with no track record to confirm that assumption.