Finance and Financial Management Services at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's finance program delivers solid middle-tier performance while keeping debt remarkably low—a combination that translates to immediate financial breathing room for graduates. With starting salaries around $56,000 and debt under $18,000, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, meaning they could theoretically pay off their loans in just four months of gross earnings. That's far better than the national median debt of $23,000+ for finance programs, placing UIC in the 95th percentile for affordability.

The earnings trajectory looks healthy too, with graduates seeing 16% growth to reach nearly $65,000 by year four. While this doesn't match the premium Illinois programs like U of I Urbana-Champaign ($75,000+), UIC outpaces both the state and national medians for finance degrees. Ranking in the 60th percentile among Illinois programs is respectable given that half of UIC's students receive Pell grants—this program is clearly creating upward mobility without the debt trap that often accompanies it.

For families weighing cost against outcome, UIC offers a practical path into finance careers. Your child won't graduate with the earning power of students from more selective programs, but they also won't spend years digging out of debt. If the goal is entering the finance field with manageable loans and room to build from there, this program accomplishes exactly that—especially valuable for students who need to start earning and advancing quickly rather than servicing heavy debt loads.