Education at Roosevelt University

Roosevelt University's Education bachelor's program operates in a challenging financial landscape for teaching candidates. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates typically face $27,000 in debt while earning around $38,700 in their first year—numbers that align closely with national medians for education degrees. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 falls within manageable territory, especially given that teacher salaries in Illinois districts can climb substantially with experience and additional credentials.

The bigger question is whether this program prepares students for Chicago's competitive education job market. Roosevelt serves a predominantly first-generation and working-class population (46% receive Pell grants), and its high admission rate suggests accessibility rather than selectivity. Without program-specific outcomes data, it's impossible to know whether Roosevelt's education graduates secure positions in better-paying suburban districts or whether the university's urban focus translates into strong placement networks with Chicago Public Schools.

For a parent weighing this investment, the estimated debt load is reasonable for a teaching career, but you'll want to verify two critical details before committing: Roosevelt's actual job placement rates for education graduates and whether the program includes all necessary Illinois licensure requirements. The numbers suggest a workable financial picture, but teaching careers depend heavily on program quality and regional connections that estimates alone can't reveal.