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Apparel and Textiles at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
41 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
42
Optimistic
41
Base Case
40
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,111/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (133,800 openings/yr)
ROI 7.2x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #37 of 53 Apparel and Textiles programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Apparel and Textiles graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $457K $461K $440K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 7.1x 7.2x 6.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.1x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 54% 48% 36%
DegreeOutlook Score 42 41 40

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$75,984
-19% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,375
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $37,111/yr, Apparel and Textiles graduates from Illinois State University land near the $35,960 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

At 7.2x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,375 debt-to-$37,111 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #37 out of 53 programs, Illinois State University's financial outcomes for Apparel and Textiles trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Illinois State University

With 89% of applicants admitted, Illinois State University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 18,414 students in Normal, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr
Materials scientists $104,160/yr
Fashion designers $80,690/yr
View all 8 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 53 schools offering Apparel and Textiles →

Apparel and Textiles at Other Schools

Central Washington University ($51,494) Utah State University ($51,221) Indiana University-Bloomington ($50,264) University of Delaware ($47,760) University of Northern Iowa ($44,647) Ohio State University-Main Campus ($41,827) Florida State University ($41,130) University of Arkansas ($40,948)

Other Majors at Illinois State University

Computer Science ($81,363) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,709) Construction Management ($70,672) Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($66,801) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($65,629) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($65,127) Accounting and Related Services ($62,940) Public Health ($59,207)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Apparel and Textiles trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Illinois State University's Apparel and Textiles program score?
This program scores 41/100 — on the lower end for Apparel and Textiles. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Apparel and Textiles to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Apparel and Textiles careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →