Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

UIUC's Communication Disorders program tells a story of delayed but substantial payoff. While first-year earnings of $29,620 sit below Illinois' state median of $31,878—placing this in the 40th percentile among Illinois programs—graduates see their income more than double by year four to $61,937. That places this program in the 79th percentile nationally, well above the national median of $24,702.

The debt picture is reasonable: $21,117 is slightly lower than both state and national medians, creating a first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 that becomes increasingly favorable as earnings climb. The dramatic income jump suggests many graduates pursue advanced degrees or clinical licensure that initially limits earnings but unlocks significantly higher pay within a few years. This is common in speech-language pathology, where clinical certification often requires supervised work experience and additional coursework.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with a larger cohort, but the pattern aligns with what you'd expect from a selective institution (44% admission rate, 1418 average SAT) preparing students for a licensed healthcare profession. If your child is willing to accept modest starting pay while building credentials, the four-year outlook is strong—though they might match that faster at Northern Illinois University, where even first-year graduates average $34,136.