University of Illinois Chicago ★ Hidden gem
Chicago, Illinois · Public · 22,170 undergraduates
Of 85 programs with reported earnings, 83 leave graduates out-earning a typical Illinois high-school graduate (about $36,082/yr) and 2 fall short. Another 139 programs did not have enough data to judge.
What families actually pay
| Family income | Net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30k | $7,529 |
| $30k to $48k | $8,119 |
| $48k to $75k | $10,921 |
| $75k to $110k | $16,185 |
| $110k and up | $25,047 |
| All families (average) | $10,974 |
Net price is the yearly cost after grants and scholarships, by family income (College Scorecard). Credit: TuitionTracker.
Program earnings vs a high-school graduate
| Program | Credential | Median earnings | vs HS grad | Verdict | Median debt | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $59,119 | +$23,037 | clears the bar | $16,031 | 0.7 yrs |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $52,736 | +$16,654 | clears the bar | $15,934 | 1 yr |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $120,470 | +$84,388 | clears the bar | $17,418 | 0.2 yrs |
| Medicine | First Professional Degree | $116,861 | +$80,779 | clears the bar | $263,341 | 3.3 yrs |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $87,037 | +$50,955 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.3 yrs |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $83,218 | +$47,136 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.3 yrs |
| Social Work | Master's Degree | $65,915 | +$29,833 | clears the bar | $35,907 | 1.2 yrs |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Bachelor's Degree | $59,295 | +$23,213 | clears the bar | $15,000 | 0.6 yrs |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | First Professional Degree | $143,853 | +$107,771 | clears the bar | $147,690 | 1.4 yrs |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $87,384 | +$51,302 | clears the bar | $20,146 | 0.4 yrs |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | Bachelor's Degree | $50,429 | +$14,347 | clears the bar | $19,500 | 1.4 yrs |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $71,293 | +$35,211 | clears the bar | $17,377 | 0.5 yrs |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $86,088 | +$50,006 | clears the bar | $18,050 | 0.4 yrs |
| Public Health | Master's Degree | $89,402 | +$53,320 | clears the bar | $45,712 | 0.9 yrs |
| Information Science/Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $81,180 | +$45,098 | clears the bar | $14,149 | 0.3 yrs |
Showing the 15 largest programs by graduates. See all 85 on the full profile.
Access and outcomes: 49% of students receive Pell grants · 62% complete their program.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10). Earnings are median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing, compared to the state high-school-graduate earnings threshold. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Something look wrong? Report it.