WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)+63% vs national median117 grads tracked

Education at Western Illinois University

Ranked 1st of 135 doctoral (research) programs in Education by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$154,543
middle 50%: $128,920 – $189,716
Median · 5 years out
$163,593
middle 50%: $130,533 – $194,116
Median · 10 years out
n/a
not enough graduates to report

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Education (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Western Illinois University's doctoral (research) program in Education earn a median $154,543 one year after graduating, rising to $163,593 by year five. Five years out, earnings run 63% above the national median of $100,245 for this field, ranking 1st of 135 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
2.1 yrs
≈ $2,146 total interest

Same major at other universities

Central Connecticut State University
$155,058 · 5 yrs out
Concordia University
$141,240 · 5 yrs out
Aurora University
$138,999 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts at Boston
$137,588 · 5 yrs out
Loyola University Chicago
$134,175 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$131,944 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Illinois University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$107,538 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$98,269 · 5 yrs out
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services (Master's)
$97,417 · 5 yrs out
Physical Sciences (Master's)
$97,160 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,133 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$96,422 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$84,414 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$82,090 · 5 yrs out
Construction Management (Bachelor's)
$82,014 · 5 yrs out
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General (Bachelor's)
$81,320 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$80,729 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$78,199 · 5 yrs out

Related fields of study

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
Compare universities
Curriculum and Instruction
Compare universities
Education, General
Compare universities
Education, Other
Compare universities
Educational Administration and Supervision
Compare universities
Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research
Compare universities