Finance and Financial Management Services at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State's finance graduates start at $43,060—nearly $11,000 below the state median and ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. Within Arkansas alone, this program trails the University of Arkansas by over $13,000 and sits near the bottom of the state's finance programs. Even Harding and Ouachita Baptist, private schools with higher tuition, deliver substantially better outcomes.

The 16% earnings growth to $50,000 by year four is solid, and the debt load of $20,915 won't trap graduates. But that still leaves them earning less than what typical finance majors make immediately after graduation elsewhere. The gap isn't explained by cost of living—other Arkansas schools using the same labor market achieve much better results with similar debt levels.

For families considering in-state options, this is a program where paying more elsewhere in Arkansas would likely pay off quickly. The University of Arkansas or even UA Little Rock would mean starting $13,000-$17,000 ahead annually, which dwarfs any tuition savings. Unless circumstances require staying in Jonesboro specifically, this finance degree represents a weak launch into a typically lucrative field.