Real Estate at Roosevelt University

Roosevelt University's real estate bachelor's program operates in a market where Chicago's commercial real estate sector creates genuine opportunity, but the estimated figures here—drawn from national benchmarks since this program's graduate cohort is too small to report—suggest modest early returns. First-year earnings around $54,665 align with what similar programs produce nationally, though this falls below what many business majors earn initially. The estimated debt of $20,530 keeps the burden manageable, with a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio that won't overwhelm entry-level salaries.

The challenge lies in Chicago's competitive real estate landscape. DePaul, the only other Illinois school with reported data, shows nearly identical earnings at $53,515, suggesting the local market sets fairly consistent entry points regardless of where you earn your degree. For a school with a 94% admission rate serving a largely Pell-eligible student body (46%), this accessibility matters—real estate careers reward hustle and relationship-building more than pedigree. However, without actual graduate outcomes from Roosevelt's program, you're betting that their small cohort performs like the national average.

The financial math works if your child can leverage Chicago's market through internships and networking during school. But recognize you're making this decision with borrowed data points. If they're considering real estate specifically, compare costs and internship pipelines carefully between Roosevelt and DePaul—the earnings look similar, so other factors should drive the choice.