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Marketing at Illinois State University

Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $51,687/yr (14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (54% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)

ROI 10.0x earnings multiple (5.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #81 of 502 Marketing programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Marketing graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$665K	$644K	$570K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.4x	10.0x	8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.7x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	66	65	58

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 (5.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,984

-19% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,472

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$76,346

48% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $51,687 per year, Marketing graduates from Illinois State University earn slightly above the $45,450 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 10.0x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Marketing's typical career paths, with 54% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $19,472 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #81 of 502 nationally, this is a top-5% Marketing program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $51,687 to $76,346 over five years — a 48% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Illinois State University

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

See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State University →

Top Career Paths

Marketing managers $161,030/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Advertising and promotions managers $126,960/yr

View all 9 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Marketing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Illinois State University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marketing at Illinois State University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Marketing field.

Will AI replace Marketing careers?

With 54% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $569,700 in decade earnings vs $664,534 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Illinois State University's Marketing program stand out?

Ranked #81 of 502 programs nationally, Illinois State University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →