Compare 23 Public Finance. programs in Illinois. Average earnings: $67,302.
The highest-earning Public Finance program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $46K earnings gap across 23 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Public Finance program leads with graduates earning $99,685—well above the $67,302 average across Illinois programs. Loyola University Chicago follows at $84,622, while DePaul University rounds out the top three at $79,506, proving that program quality varies independently of overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 3.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making it both the top performer and best value.
Highest program earnings: $99,685
Strong outcomes ($84,622) with 81% acceptance
3.5% payment burden | Excellent
10.5% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $99,685 | 256 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #2 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $84,622 | 120 | $24,157 | Excellent | $54,045 | Challenging |
| #3 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $79,506 | 283 | $23,168 | Excellent | $41,563 | Manageable |
| #4 | Elmhurst UniversityPrivate | $78,675 | 46 | $20,489 | Excellent | $27,470 | Manageable |
| #5 | Illinois Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $77,596 | 19 | $27,000 | Excellent | $47,679 | Challenging |
| #6 | Benedictine UniversityPrivate | $74,264 | 19 | $22,500 | Excellent | $22,900 | Manageable |
| #7 | $72,770 | 245 | $20,482 | Excellent | $28,767 | Manageable | |
| #8 | Lake Forest CollegePrivate | $72,661 | 29 | $26,158 | Excellent | $35,000 | Challenging |
| #9 | Saint Xavier UniversityPrivate | $72,197 | 40 | $22,223 | Excellent | $20,742 | Manageable |
| #10 | North Central CollegePrivate | $71,590 | 39 | $24,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #11 | $70,590 | 26 | $21,500 | Excellent | $17,781 | Good | |
| #12 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $70,087 | 19 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,405 | Challenging |
| #13 | Roosevelt UniversityPrivate | $68,410 | 25 | $22,000 | Excellent | $27,213 | Manageable |
| #14 | $66,930 | 90 | $22,162 | Excellent | $19,508 | Manageable | |
| #15 | $64,683 | 253 | $16,704 | Excellent | $24,323 | Manageable | |
| #16 | $60,783 | 58 | $14,600 | Excellent | $13,578 | Good | |
| #17 | $58,331 | 40 | $21,543 | Good | $19,500 | Manageable | |
| #18 | Illinois CollegePrivate | $57,305 | 17 | $25,565 | Good | $22,975 | Challenging |
| #19 | $57,244 | 17 | $25,251 | Good | $20,764 | Challenging | |
| #20 | University Of St FrancisPrivate | $53,525 | 13 | $21,079 | Good | $24,148 | Challenging |
| #21 | Lewis UniversityPrivate | $49,527 | 26 | $21,500 | Good | $23,044 | Challenging |
| #22 | Aurora UniversityPrivate | $48,682 | 33 | $20,318 | Good | $19,500 | Challenging |
| #23 | Quincy UniversityPrivate | $38,289 | 17 | $24,000 | Challenging | $16,609 | 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 →
