Business Administration, Management and Operations at Alverno College

Alverno College's business program charges above-average debt ($33,225 vs. $27,000 state median) to deliver below-average outcomes—placing in just the 25th percentile among Wisconsin business programs with starting salaries near $39,000. This is roughly $13,000 less than the typical Wisconsin business graduate earns, a significant gap considering many students stay in-state where they'll compete directly with graduates from UW-Oshkosh ($58,000) and other higher-earning programs.

The 28% earnings growth to nearly $50,000 by year four helps close some of this gap, but even mid-career earnings trail state norms. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.85 isn't catastrophic, but it means graduates start with debt equal to 85% of their first-year salary—manageable but requiring disciplined budgeting in those early years. For context, Alverno serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (49%), and the higher debt load may reflect the financial reality many students face, even at this open-access institution.

If your child has admission offers from other Wisconsin business programs, the earnings data suggests they'll likely see better financial returns elsewhere. However, if Alverno's accessibility, location in Milwaukee, or support services make it the most viable path to a degree, the program does produce working professionals who see income growth over time—just not at the competitive salary levels you'll find across much of the state.