Compare 21 Drawing. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $33,087.
With top graduates earning $43,277, Drawing stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $10K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 21 Illinois programs, outcomes vary based on program quality, not school reputation.
Northeastern Illinois University's Drawing program leads with graduates earning $43,277, followed by Illinois State University at $42,181. The statewide average sits at $33,087, but these top programs demonstrate that regional publics can deliver strong outcomes in creative fields. Western Illinois University rounds out the top three at $40,303, reinforcing that program-specific factors drive results.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northeastern Illinois University graduates borrow $14,600 and face just a 9.7% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' affordability category. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 means graduates can handle loan payments while building their careers, proving strong programs can also be financially smart.
Highest program earnings: $43,277
Strong outcomes with 70% acceptance rate
9.7% payment burden | Good affordability
20.0% family burden | Challenging but manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $43,277 | 24 | $14,600 | Good | $13,578 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $42,181 | 84 | $20,482 | Manageable | $28,767 | High | |
| #3 | $40,303 | 21 | $25,251 | Challenging | $20,764 | High | |
| #4 | $37,721 | 33 | $16,704 | Manageable | $24,323 | High | |
| #5 | $37,003 | 78 | $22,162 | Challenging | $19,508 | High | |
| #6 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $36,401 | 23 | $25,000 | Challenging | $21,966 | High |
| #7 | Columbia College ChicagoPrivate | $36,210 | 23 | $25,000 | High | $55,700 | High |
| #8 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $35,330 | 10 | $27,000 | High | $41,405 | High |
| #9 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $35,009 | 25 | $23,168 | High | $41,563 | High |
| #10 | North Park UniversityPrivate | $33,276 | 19 | $25,500 | High | $24,179 | High |
| #11 | $33,157 | 24 | $21,500 | High | $17,781 | High | |
| #12 | $32,573 | 627 | $27,000 | High | $77,991 | High | |
| #13 | $32,551 | 35 | $20,500 | High | $21,500 | High | |
| #14 | $32,550 | 37 | $21,543 | High | $19,500 | High | |
| #15 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $32,382 | 24 | $15,000 | Challenging | $26,966 | High |
| #16 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 8 | $22,223 | High | $20,742 | High |
| #17 | $28,363 | 36 | $19,500 | High | $34,511 | High | |
| #18 | Millikin UniversityPrivate | $28,236 | 8 | $27,000 | High | $25,486 | High |
| #19 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $25,967 | 15 | $26,158 | High | $35,000 | High |
| #20 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $23,202 | 15 | $23,250 | High | $35,000 | High |
| #21 | North Central CollegePrivate | $19,455 | 6 | $24,500 | High | $30,000 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
