Information Science/Studies at University of Illinois Chicago

UIC's Information Science program delivers something increasingly rare: genuinely affordable preparation for a tech-adjacent career. With graduates leaving with just $14,538 in debt—less than half the Illinois median and barely a quarter of their first-year earnings—this program solves the debt problem that plagues many college majors. Students are earning $58,651 within a year and watching those salaries climb to over $74,000 by year four, a 27% increase that suggests strong career momentum.

The catch is that Illinois employers seem to value credentials from other schools slightly more. While this program hits the national median, it sits at the 40th percentile among Illinois information science programs, trailing schools like Northwestern (obviously), but also Rasmussen and DePaul. Still, the earnings gap isn't dramatic—about $2,000 below the state median—and you're paying far less to get there. Northwestern grads earn more, but they're also likely carrying significantly higher debt burdens.

For students who need to keep debt minimal while entering tech fields—particularly UIC's heavily first-generation and Pell-eligible student body—this represents a practical path. You're not getting elite employer recognition, but you're building skills that clearly translate to salary growth, and you're doing it without the financial weight that often forces graduates into suboptimal early career decisions. The low debt load alone creates options that many peers won't have.