Animal Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A highly selective university doesn't always guarantee strong early earnings, and this program illustrates why fit matters more than prestige. Despite UIUC's competitive admissions (SAT averaging 1418), Animal Sciences graduates start at just $30,187—landing below the 25th percentile nationally and barely at the Illinois median. That $19,850 in debt isn't catastrophic, but when paired with starting earnings this low, it means graduates are treading water financially in those crucial first years.

The encouraging news is the trajectory: earnings jump 32% by year four, reaching nearly $40,000. That's solid growth, though still modest in absolute terms compared to other UIUC programs. For context, Southern Illinois Carbondale's Animal Sciences graduates actually earn slightly more initially ($30,706), which should prompt serious questions about whether the UIUC premium is worth it for this particular major. The moderate sample size suggests these numbers are reasonably stable, not just statistical noise.

If your child is genuinely passionate about animal sciences and understands they're choosing career fulfillment over financial outcomes, this program can work—especially given the improving earnings trend. But families banking on the UIUC name to deliver typical UIUC-level returns will be disappointed. This is a field where career paths matter more than institutional prestige, and starting salaries won't support aggressive loan repayment.