General Sales, Merchandising at Bellevue University

With first-year earnings of $75,543, Bellevue University's sales and merchandising program launches graduates at nearly $22,000 above the national median—landing in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive on its face, but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these results may not be typical. The debt load of $24,810 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.33, which means graduates earn their entire debt load back in about four months.

The concerning detail is the earnings trajectory: by year four, median pay actually dips to $72,918. While still strong compared to national benchmarks, this reverse trajectory is unusual for bachelor's degree holders and raises questions about whether early graduates are hitting a ceiling or shifting into different roles. It's worth noting Nebraska has limited comparison points—Bellevue appears to be the only school reporting data for this program in the state.

For parents, this program shows genuine earning power right out of the gate, but the lack of growth and small sample make it riskier than the headline numbers suggest. If your student has strong sales aptitude and wants immediate earning potential, the low debt makes this a defensible choice. Just recognize you're betting on outlier performance that may not hold across all graduates.