Business Administration, Management and Operations at Anderson University

Anderson University's business program produces starting salaries well below what Indiana families should expect from this degree. At $34,294 in the first year, graduates earn about 30% less than the typical Indiana business graduate ($49,245) and rank in just the 10th percentile statewide. Compare this to Indiana Wesleyan or Ball State, where business graduates start around $60,000—nearly double Anderson's outcomes.

The 41% earnings jump to $48,428 by year four offers some recovery, but even this improved figure trails both state and national norms. The debt load of $27,000 isn't excessive on its own, but paired with these weak starting salaries, it creates a challenging first few years. You're looking at a debt burden that equals 79% of first-year income, making those early payments harder than they need to be.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates tracked—means these numbers could shift with more data. But taken at face value, this program underperforms dramatically compared to Indiana's stronger business schools. If your child is set on Anderson for other reasons (campus fit, faith-based education), understand you're likely paying more for less earning power than in-state alternatives would deliver.