Est. Earnings (1yr)
$42,938
Est. from TN median (28 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,560
Est. from TN median (18 programs)

Analysis

Tennessee business programs vary dramatically in outcomes, with top schools producing graduates earning nearly $60,000 in their first year. Belmont's estimated figures—drawn from the state median of similar programs—suggest first-year earnings around $43,000, which sits squarely at the Tennessee median but trails the national benchmark by about $2,800. The four-year earnings jump to $52,653 aligns with the 75th percentile nationally, indicating solid mid-career progression, though this too appears to be estimated from peer data rather than Belmont-specific outcomes.

The estimated $26,560 in debt produces a manageable 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, slightly above the ideal 0.5 threshold but within reasonable bounds for a business degree. With 96% of applicants admitted and only 19% receiving Pell grants, Belmont serves a largely middle-to-upper income student body paying private school tuition for outcomes that mirror public university results.

The uncertainty here is significant: you're essentially betting on Belmont matching the performance of typical Tennessee business programs rather than joining the state's top tier—schools producing graduates who earn $15,000-$16,000 more annually. If the cost of attendance is substantially higher than public alternatives like UT-Knoxville, the value proposition weakens considerably. Get actual graduate outcome data from Belmont's career services before committing, particularly regarding job placement rates and starting salaries for recent business graduates.

Where Belmont University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Belmont University$52,653
Rhodes College$58,550$72,782+24%
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville$59,147$68,864+16%
Tennessee State University$40,077$53,542+34%
Lee University$40,193$53,318+33%

Compare to Similar Programs in Tennessee

Business Administration, Management and Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Tennessee (38 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Belmont UniversityNashville$41,320$42,938*$52,653$26,560*
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleKnoxville$13,484$59,147*$68,864$20,500*0.35
Tennessee Wesleyan UniversityAthens$29,264$58,859*$51,442$29,750*0.51
Rhodes CollegeMemphis$54,892$58,550*$72,782$22,240*0.38
Union UniversityJackson$38,450$58,201*$36,947$33,333*0.57
Bryan College-DaytonDayton$18,900$52,528*$27,000*0.51
National Median$45,703*$26,000*0.57
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Belmont University, approximately 19% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 28 similar programs in TN. Actual outcomes may vary.