Human Resources Management and Services at Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University's HR program starts graduates about $4,000 below the Illinois median, landing at the 40th percentile among state programs—not disastrous, but trailing schools like North Central College and Concordia by several thousand dollars. The $26,000 in debt is reasonable and typical for HR programs, creating a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio. However, the real concern is that four-year earnings of $51,901 only just catch up to what Illinois HR graduates typically make in their first year.

The 9% earnings growth is modest but steady, and graduates do cross the $50,000 threshold by year four. While this won't match the elite outcomes at Northwestern or Benedictine (both over $80,000), the program offers affordable preparation for an HR career without crushing debt. The gap between Western Illinois and the state median, though, suggests students are entering slightly less competitive positions or markets compared to peers from other Illinois schools.

For families prioritizing affordability and willing to accept middle-of-the-pack career outcomes in Illinois, this works. But if your student is choosing between Western Illinois and schools closer to the state median, the initial earnings gap matters—that $4,000 difference compounds over time, and this program hasn't shown it closes significantly in the first four years.