Management Scienceat Illinois State University
Graduates earn $47,553/yr in their first year — about 24.0% below the national Management Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $712K; scenarios range from $612K to $728K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Illinois State University
Starting salaries of $47,553/yr fall 24% below the $62,729 national median for Management Science. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 11.1x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Management Science career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $21,500 in median debt against $47,553 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #53 ranking among 118 Management Science programs places Illinois State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $47,553-to-$74,155 earnings arc over five years reflects a 56% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Illinois State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Management Science
How Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Illinois State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Management Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Management Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Management Science at Illinois State University
What does a 71/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Management Science at Illinois State University?
At 71/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Management Science at Illinois State University?
The 55% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Illinois State University a good choice for Management Science despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Illinois State University's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.