Architecture at Andrews University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 is manageable territory for architecture graduates, though the estimated figures here—$47,000 in first-year earnings against $28,400 in debt—deserve scrutiny because they're derived from national peer programs rather than Andrews' actual outcomes. Architecture is a field where internships and local market connections matter enormously, and with only four programs in Michigan, each school's particular industry relationships can produce vastly different results.

The estimated earnings align almost exactly with the national median for architecture bachelor's programs, which sounds reassuring until you see that Michigan's state median sits nearly $8,000 lower at $39,000. Even the University of Michigan reports earnings below the national figure. This gap raises questions about whether Michigan's architecture market simply pays less, or whether the state data reflects something specific about career trajectories here. Andrews' relatively small program (hence the suppressed data) could mean either more individualized attention or fewer recruitment pipelines—impossible to know without talking to recent alumni.

The debt estimate appears reasonable compared to the national median of $27,000, and the overall ratio suggests graduates could manage payments on a typical salary. But you're making this decision essentially blind. Before committing, get actual placement data directly from Andrews' architecture department: where do their graduates work, what firms recruit on campus, and how many pass licensure exams on schedule? Those answers matter more than peer-program estimates when evaluating a small program in a modest-paying state market.