Compare 23 Political Economy. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $48,182.
Political Economy programs produce graduates earning between $32,103 and $78,986—a $47K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 23 ranked programs in Illinois, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
University of Chicago's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $78,986, well above the $48,182 state average. Northwestern follows at $71,052, but the surprise is Bradley University at third with $68,838—proving that smaller programs can deliver outcomes rivaling elite institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Chicago graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 3.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Bradley requires higher borrowing ($27,000) but still achieves an 8.0% burden, keeping payments manageable for most graduates.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $78,986 | 106 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Manageable |
| #2 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $71,052 | 121 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #3 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $68,838 | 20 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,405 | Challenging |
| #4 | $63,542 | 259 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #5 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $58,590 | 127 | $24,157 | Good | $54,045 | High |
| #6 | North Central CollegePrivate | $57,848 | 17 | $24,500 | Good | $30,000 | Challenging |
| #7 | $55,237 | 30 | $20,500 | Good | $21,500 | Challenging | |
| #8 | Augustana CollegePrivate | $53,548 | 29 | $27,000 | Good | $37,219 | High |
| #9 | $53,370 | 87 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #10 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $52,563 | 102 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #11 | $51,900 | 87 | $20,482 | Good | $28,767 | High | |
| #12 | $49,182 | 31 | $21,543 | Good | $19,500 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $48,704 | 72 | $16,704 | Good | $24,323 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $45,069 | 17 | $23,250 | Manageable | $35,000 | High |
| #15 | $43,267 | 20 | $14,600 | Good | $13,578 | Challenging | |
| #16 | $39,741 | 27 | $21,500 | Manageable | $17,781 | High | |
| #17 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $36,521 | 20 | $22,000 | Challenging | $27,213 | High |
| #18 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $36,141 | 7 | $27,000 | High | $47,679 | High |
| #19 | $33,161 | 18 | $25,251 | High | $20,764 | High | |
| #20 | Monmouth CollegePrivate | $32,103 | 12 | $27,000 | High | $27,185 | High |
| #21 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $30,409 | 17 | $26,158 | High | $35,000 | High |
| #22 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $25,828 | 13 | $22,223 | High | $20,742 | High |
| #23 | Knox CollegePrivate | $22,578 | 11 | $27,000 | High | $28,730 | 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 →
