Real Estate Degree in Waukegan, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Real Estate degree analysis for Waukegan, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.6 yrs
in Waukegan
Cost of Living
90.3
index (100 = avg)
Real Estate in Waukegan, IL Overview
While Waukegan has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Real Estate students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $13,641/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Real Estate enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Property Valuation and Investment Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Waukegan is approximately $45,150, growing to $81,270 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
4
Public Tuition
$15,400/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$13,641/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,734/yr
Unemployment
5.1%
Graduation Rate
74%
Real Estate Salary in Waukegan (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Waukegan's cost of living index of 90.3 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Real Estate salary: $50,000 starting, $90,000 mid-career, $125,000 senior level.Waukegan adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Real Estate ROI Calculator for Waukegan
Estimate your return on investment for a Real Estate degree using local Waukegan tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $15,400 | Private avg: $38,000
Waukegan avg aid: $13,734/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$116,164
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,545
vs HS diploma in Waukegan
ROI Payback Period
8.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Waukegan
$515,936
Lifetime earnings premium ($632,100) minus total education cost ($116,164)
Student Loan Payoff for Real Estate in Waukegan
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Waukegan for Real Estate
Waukegan State University
public
$15,619/yr
$62,476 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Waukegan Community College
$4,848/yr
Top Employers for Real Estate in Waukegan
Waukegan offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Real Estate graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Waukegan Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Real Estate Job Titles
Real Estate in Nearby Illinois Cities
Chicago, IL
$55K starting · COL 109
98 colleges
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Other Business Majors in Waukegan
Business Analytics
$70K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$63K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$45K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Business Administration
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Real Estate Degree in Waukegan — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Real Estate ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Waukegan.