Marketing at Adrian College

Adrian College's marketing program carries one of the lowest debt loads you'll find anywhere—just $27,000 at graduation puts it in the 5th percentile nationally. That's roughly $3,000 less than what Michigan students typically borrow for marketing degrees. Combined with first-year earnings of $44,122, graduates face a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning they owe about seven months of salary.

The tradeoff is middle-of-the-pack earning potential. At $44,122 initially and $52,172 by year four, graduates earn slightly below the Michigan median for marketing majors. They're making about $12,000 less than Michigan State grads and $8,000 less than Central Michigan grads four years out. However, the 18% earnings growth suggests steady career progression, and these graduates aren't struggling—they're just not at the top of the Michigan market.

For families prioritizing affordability over prestige, this equation works. Your child graduates with thousands less debt than peers at competitive Michigan programs while still earning a livable wage that grows respectably over time. If they're considering Adrian anyway for other reasons (smaller campus, specific programs), the marketing degree won't undermine their financial future. But if maximizing earning potential is the priority, larger state universities deliver notably stronger outcomes for similar or only slightly higher debt.