Business Administration, Management and Operations at Aquinas College

Aquinas College's business program graduates earn about $45,000 right after graduation—close to the national average but notably below Michigan's typical business graduate, who earns around $50,000. More concerning is where this program ranks statewide: 40th percentile among Michigan business programs means 60% of the state's business schools produce stronger early-career outcomes. Given that many Michigan families choose in-state options for affordability, and Grand Rapids offers a solid business community, these earnings lag what you'd expect from the regional economy.

The flat earnings trajectory compounds the value question. Graduates see essentially no income growth between year one and year four, remaining stuck around $45,000 while peers at nearby Grand Valley State University already start at $58,000. The $26,000 debt load is manageable relative to first-year income, but you're paying to reach a ceiling that other Michigan programs treat as a floor. Among the state's 40 business programs, this falls squarely in the bottom half for outcomes.

For families weighing Aquinas's 71% admission rate and smaller campus environment against financial returns, this is a program that gets you to average—but not beyond. If your student has options at any of Michigan's higher-ranked public universities, the earnings premium would pay for the difference in institutional prestige within a few years. Aquinas works if campus fit is paramount and expectations remain modest, but purely as a career investment, stronger alternatives exist within driving distance.