Business/Managerial Economics at Ashford University

Ashford's Business/Managerial Economics program reports striking numbers—graduates earning $66,360 within a year, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally. But there's a catch: with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, we're looking at a very limited sample that may not represent the typical student experience. The program's debt load of $36,551 is notably higher than California's $18,000 median for this major, though the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 remains manageable given the strong initial salaries.

What's puzzling is the state context. Despite ranking in the top 5% nationally, these graduates land only in the 60th percentile among California programs—meaning this is solid performance for the state, but nothing exceptional. UC Davis and UCLA graduates are earning significantly more, suggesting that Ashford's high national ranking reflects how competitive California's business economics programs are rather than Ashford's unique strength.

The small sample size is the elephant in the room here. With so few graduates, one or two high earners could skew the entire picture. Before betting $36,551 in debt on these outcomes, ask admissions for more detailed data: How many years does this sample cover? What industries do graduates enter? The reported earnings are encouraging, but you need confidence that they reflect a consistent pattern rather than a statistical fluke.