Finance and Financial Management Services at Andrews University

A debt load of roughly $26,000 for a finance degree isn't unreasonable in itself, but when the numbers here are based on broader Michigan patterns rather than Andrews' actual graduates, parents face genuine uncertainty about what to expect. Peer programs across Michigan suggest first-year earnings around $57,000—slightly above the national median for finance degrees—but that's averaging programs ranging from Michigan State's $68,000 outcomes down to much lower figures elsewhere.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 looks manageable on paper, roughly matching what finance graduates typically carry nationwide. However, Andrews operates as a small Seventh-day Adventist institution, and its career network and recruiting pipeline may differ significantly from the larger state universities that dominate Michigan's finance placement data. The modest admission standards and SAT scores suggest this isn't competing directly with Michigan State or Oakland for the same employers, which matters when starting salaries in finance can vary by $10,000 or more depending on whether graduates land at regional banks versus major financial centers.

Without actual outcomes data from Andrews itself, you're essentially betting that this program performs at least as well as the typical Michigan finance degree. If Andrews has strong denominational network connections or specific industry relationships, that could work in your child's favor. But given the cost and the estimation uncertainty, confirming where recent graduates actually landed—through the career services office or LinkedIn—would be essential before committing.