Business Administration, Management and Operations at Berkeley College-Woodland Park

Berkeley College-Woodland Park's business program sits in an uncomfortable middle ground: earnings that lag behind New Jersey alternatives, paired with debt that exceeds both state and national norms. At $40,550 in first-year earnings, graduates earn less than what typical New Jersey business majors make ($45,197) and fall well short of what Rutgers graduates achieve ($58,896). Meanwhile, the $34,874 in median debt—40% higher than the state median—creates a financial squeeze that's harder to justify when stronger options exist in-state.

The program does serve a predominantly Pell-eligible population (60% of students), suggesting it fills a specific access role. Earnings grow a respectable 13% by year four, reaching $45,602, which brings graduates closer to state averages. But that four-year wait matters when you're starting with higher debt: the 0.86 debt-to-earnings ratio, while manageable, still means nearly a year's salary in loans.

For New Jersey families, the calculation is straightforward: if your child can access a Rutgers campus or similar public option, those programs deliver 30-45% higher earnings with comparable or lower debt. Berkeley College may work for students who need the access it provides, but it's not competing on outcomes—it ranks only in the 40th percentile among New Jersey business programs, meaning six out of ten alternatives perform better.