Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Roosevelt University

A Chicago nursing program carrying an estimated $26,624 in debt raises immediate questions about value, especially when most comparable Illinois nursing programs graduate students with half that burden—the state median sits at just $14,500. While nursing salaries in Illinois remain strong, with similar programs producing first-year earnings around $66,360, this debt level is uncomfortably high for an associate degree that typically offers one of the quickest paths to middle-class income in healthcare.

The comparison to other Illinois programs is telling. Top-performing community colleges across the state report their graduates earning $71,000 to $75,000 right out of the gate, often with significantly less debt than Roosevelt's estimated figure. Even accounting for Chicago's higher cost of living, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 means your child would be starting their nursing career owing roughly five months of gross income—manageable, but not the lean financial picture that makes community college nursing programs such reliable investments.

For a family weighing Roosevelt against Illinois alternatives, the key question is what justifies the premium. If location in Chicago is essential and your child has already completed prerequisites that transfer cleanly, it may still work. But most families would be better served exploring the state's community colleges, where actual reported outcomes show stronger earnings and substantially lower debt loads for the same RN credential.