Business Administration, Management and Operations at Albright College

Albright's business program starts slow but recovers impressively. That first-year salary of $39,711 ranks in just the 25th percentile among Pennsylvania business programs—about $7,300 below what graduates earn from the typical PA business school. The $26,000 in debt sits right at the national median, creating an uncomfortable gap early on when recent grads are earning 13% less than the state average.

Here's what makes this tricky: the 46% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates eventually find their footing, climbing to nearly $58,000 by year four. That's solid momentum. But parents should know their child will likely face a tighter financial runway in those crucial first years after graduation. Compare this to University of Pittsburgh's business program where grads start at $62,675, or even mid-tier Pennsylvania options that begin in the mid-$40,000s.

The program serves a predominantly middle-class student body (half receive Pell grants) at an accessible institution with an 86% admission rate. If your child has significantly stronger options—particularly at Pennsylvania's large state schools—those would offer better starting positions with similar or lower debt. This works for students who need a pathway into business and can handle a slower start, but the gap between Albright and Pennsylvania's median business program outcome is real and quantifiable.