Program Analysis
At $25,247 per year, Apparel and Textiles graduates from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale earn below the $35,960 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
At 7.4x 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 -2% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $30,916 debt load exceeds a year of the $25,247 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.
At #53 out of 53 programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's financial outcomes for Apparel and Textiles trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth is modest: $25,247 to $28,119 over five years (11% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.