Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Roosevelt University

A bachelor's in entrepreneurship from Roosevelt carries an estimated $25,400 in debt—slightly above the national median for this major—while peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $45,300. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 sits in reasonable territory, meaning graduates would owe about half their first year's salary, but the narrow spread between the debt and earnings figures means there's limited financial cushion early on.

What makes this estimate particularly uncertain is Roosevelt's open-access model: with a 94% acceptance rate and half its students on Pell grants, the school serves a different population than many institutions offering this degree. Entrepreneurship outcomes can vary wildly based on student networks, capital access, and prior business experience—factors that may differ significantly at Roosevelt compared to the national programs used for these estimates. The single reported program in Illinois (Loyola) shows earnings of $45,900, essentially matching the national figure, but whether Roosevelt graduates see similar results depends heavily on factors these estimates can't capture.

The real question is whether entrepreneurship education delivers value through credentials and employment, or through other channels like business networks and startup support. If your student is pursuing this degree for traditional employment, the estimated numbers suggest modest but manageable debt. If they're planning to launch their own venture, the financial projections become less relevant than the quality of Roosevelt's entrepreneurial ecosystem—something you'll need to evaluate independently.