Business Administration, Management and Operations at Bethune-Cookman University

The debt picture here looks manageable at an estimated $25,475—roughly in line with what similar business programs in Florida report—but the earnings trajectory raises serious questions. While comparable Florida programs suggest first-year earnings around $45,000, this school's actual four-year earnings data shows just $29,520, a dramatic decline that defies typical career progression. That backwards movement could signal graduates struggling to find jobs that match their credentials, or leaving the workforce altogether.

Serving primarily Pell-eligible students at an open-admission HBCU, Bethune-Cookman faces challenges that show up in these outcomes. The debt-to-earnings estimate of 0.57 assumes graduates hit that $45,000 mark initially, but if the four-year figure is any indication of the real trajectory, that ratio becomes far less favorable. Meanwhile, top Florida business programs like Embry-Riddle produce graduates earning $67,000—nearly 50% more than the state median.

The takeaway: Without knowing this program's actual first-year outcomes, you're betting on an estimate that contradicts the only real data point available. The four-year earnings figure should prompt direct questions to the school about job placement rates, what kinds of positions graduates actually secure, and why earnings appear to decline rather than grow. Don't commit without understanding what's driving that unusual pattern.