Illinois Media School
- Graduation Rate
- 73% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $38,284 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $27,238 D
- 59% more than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 32
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 8.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $8.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $8.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $847,311.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $8.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Illinois Media School
Illinois Media School is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private for-profit College
- Enrollment
- 32
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Communications
Why students choose Illinois Media School
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $27,238 a year after grants and scholarships — 59% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $38,284 ten years after enrolling — 6% below the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Can I Get In?
How selective Illinois Media School is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Illinois Media School? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Illinois Media School enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
- Retention Rate
- 67%
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Illinois Media School? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
The average net price at Illinois Media School, the amount students actually pay each year after federal grants and scholarships, is about $27,238. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,604 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- Avg Net Price
- $27,238
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 55%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 57%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $26,604
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $28,069
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $29,593
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Illinois Media School — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Illinois Media School Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Illinois Media School report median earnings of $38,284, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,958
- 8 Years
- $34,661
- 10 Years
- $38,284
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (34)
- 64%
- 100% (34)
- 64%
- 100% (34)
- 64%
- 100% (34)
- 64%
How Illinois Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Illinois Media School Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Illinois Media School delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,238/year ($108,952 total). Graduates earn $38,284 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $956,263 in total earnings — a net gain of $847,311 (8.8× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 73% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $108,952
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $956,263
- Net Return
- $847,311
- ROI Multiple
- 8.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,238
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 73%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Illinois Media School awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Communications 100% $28,215 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Illinois Media School's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- C-Video Producer$82,510 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Technical Writer$80,050 · 4% growthVulnerable 48
- C-Content Strategist$78,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- CInstructional Designer$74,150 · 8% growthResilient 74
- D+Copywriter$73,150 · 4% growthVulnerable 48
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Illinois Media School? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Illinois Media School enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Illinois Media School? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
The average net price at Illinois Media School, the amount students actually pay each year after federal grants and scholarships, is about $27,238. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,604 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Illinois Media School Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Illinois Media School report median earnings of $38,284, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Illinois Media School.
- Colorado Media SchoolDenver, CO · Close peer70% grad $37,423 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Concorde Career College-BroadwayKansas City, MO · Close peer69% grad $35,242 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Ohio Media School-ColumbusColumbus, OH · Close peer62% grad $37,423 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Academy of Esthetics and CosmetologySan Fernando, CA · Close peer59% grad $35,089 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Illinois Media School-Chicago CampusChicago, IL · Close peer61% grad $38,284 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Lansdale School of BusinessNorth Wales, PA · Close peer75% grad $37,442 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
