Education at University of Chicago
Master's Degree
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
Earnings trajectories vary significantly. Some programs show strong early returns that plateau; others start lower but accelerate. Consider where you want to be at year 4, not just year 1.
Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois
Education masters's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (16 total in state)
| School | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago | $52,088* | $65,015 | — | — |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $62,620* | — | — | — |
| North Park University | $57,383* | $60,968 | — | — |
| Quincy University | $52,088* | $52,918 | — | — |
| McKendree University | $50,945* | $49,172 | — | — |
| Northern Illinois University | $50,338* | — | — | — |
| National Median | $56,157* | — | — | — |
Other Education Programs in Illinois
Compare tuition, earnings, and debt across Illinois schools
| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign | $16,004 | $62,620 | — |
| North Park University Chicago | $35,325 | $57,383 | — |
| Quincy University Quincy | $35,740 | $52,088 | — |
| McKendree University Lebanon | $34,070 | $50,945 | — |
| Northern Illinois University Dekalb | $12,700 | $50,338 | — |
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Chicago, approximately 14% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.