Business Administration, Management and Operations at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State's business program sits squarely in the middle of the state's rankings but lags significantly behind national standards. While graduates earn $36,007 in their first year—about $3,000 below Arkansas's median for this major—they're making nearly $10,000 less than the national median. That's a substantial gap that persists even as earnings grow to $46,196 by year four, still trailing national benchmarks by $8,000.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $22,000, it's lower than both state and national medians, and the 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage their loans on starting salaries. The 28% earnings growth over four years is encouraging and suggests decent career trajectory, though the starting point matters. Compare this to in-state alternatives like University of Arkansas, where graduates start at $56,456, or even Arkansas Tech at $39,866—both offer better launching pads for similar debt levels.

For Arkansas families seeking an affordable business degree close to home, this program delivers reasonable value with manageable debt. But students with stronger credentials (the school's average SAT of 1119 suggests room for some to aim higher) should seriously consider the University of Arkansas flagship, where the $34,000 earnings premium in year one could justify modestly higher debt and likely outweigh any cost differences within a few years of graduation.