Compare 19 Economics. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $65,090.
The highest-earning Economics program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $97K earnings gap across 19 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
At the top, University of Chicago produces Economics graduates earning $128K, well above the state average of $65K. Northwestern follows at $106K, while Illinois Wesleyan at $86K demonstrates that smaller programs can compete—their 14-graduate cohort proves size doesn't determine success.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Chicago graduates borrow $15K and face just a 2.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Even when including parent loans, the total family burden stays at 6.9%—proof that top programs can also be affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $127,832 | 423 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Excellent |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $105,795 | 338 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Excellent |
| #3 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $85,928 | 14 | $27,000 | Excellent | $47,679 | Manageable |
| #4 | $75,600 | 490 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $72,164 | 8 | $27,000 | Excellent | $37,219 | Challenging |
| #6 | $63,369 | 99 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Manageable | |
| #7 | $63,359 | 24 | $22,162 | Excellent | $19,508 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $62,870 | 21 | $26,158 | Good | $35,000 | Challenging |
| #9 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $60,894 | 40 | $23,250 | Good | $35,000 | Challenging |
| #10 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $60,508 | 29 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #11 | Knox CollegePrivate | $59,038 | 18 | $27,000 | Good | $28,730 | Challenging |
| #12 | $56,964 | 46 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | Challenging | |
| #13 | North Central CollegePrivate | $56,641 | 31 | $24,500 | Good | $30,000 | Challenging |
| #14 | $55,396 | 17 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Manageable | |
| #15 | Dominican UniversityPrivate | $54,644 | 6 | $24,411 | Good | $19,865 | Challenging |
| #16 | Olivet Nazarene UniversityPrivate | $49,058 | 33 | $25,000 | Manageable | $21,966 | High |
| #17 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | $48,823 | 11 | $20,489 | Good | $27,470 | High |
| #18 | Monmouth CollegePrivate | $47,048 | 14 | $27,000 | Manageable | $27,185 | High |
| #19 | $30,771 | 13 | $21,543 | High | $19,500 | 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 →
