Business Administration, Management and Operations at American InterContinental University System

This business administration program at American InterContinental University presents significant concerns for prospective students. With starting salaries of $43,528, graduates earn substantially less than both the national average ($45,703) and Arizona's median ($53,770) for business programs. More troubling, this program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Arizona business programs, meaning 75% of similar programs in the state produce better-earning graduates.

The debt picture is particularly problematic. At nearly $50,000, student debt is roughly double both the national ($26,000) and Arizona ($24,796) medians for business programs. This puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 1.15, meaning graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary. While earnings do grow modestly to $47,125 by year four, this trajectory lags behind stronger Arizona programs where graduates at top schools like Arizona State start above $60,000.

The combination of below-average earnings and exceptionally high debt creates a challenging financial situation for graduates. With 73% of students receiving Pell grants, many come from lower-income families who can least afford this debt burden. Arizona offers numerous stronger alternatives, including Arizona State's various formats and even University of Phoenix, all delivering significantly higher starting salaries with much lower debt loads.