Business Administration, Management and Operations at Biola University

A $25,000 debt load for a bachelor's in business from Biola lands right at the national median for this major, though it's somewhat higher than what other California business programs typically produce. Based on comparable business programs across the state, first-year earnings around $49,500 would put graduates at the California median—a solid middle-of-the-pack outcome that matches the national benchmark of $45,700. The resulting debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests manageable repayment for most graduates.

The challenge is that California's business education landscape varies dramatically. While peer programs in the state suggest Biola's outcomes fall in a reasonable range, the top programs here—UC Berkeley, USC, Pepperdine—produce starting salaries between $70,000 and $90,000. That 40-80% earnings premium creates a real gap that compounds over a career. For families paying private school tuition, the question becomes whether Biola's faith-based mission and campus culture justify settling into the middle tier when stronger earnings trajectories exist at both public universities and competitor private schools.

The estimation here matters: without actual graduate outcomes, you're betting that Biola performs like the typical California business program. Given the school's 60% admission rate and solid SAT scores, that seems reasonable, but parents should press the school for placement specifics—which industries hire their graduates, which companies recruit on campus, and how alumni networks function in competitive Southern California job markets.