Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degree) at Boston College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$74,446

95th percentile

60th percentile in Massachusetts

Median Debt

$19,000

21% below national median

Analysis

Boston College graduates from this entrepreneurship program earn substantially more than the national median—nearly $30,000 more in their first year—but that premium looks less impressive when you zoom into Massachusetts. At $74,446, these graduates land in the 60th percentile among state programs, meaning four out of ten Massachusetts schools produce higher earners in this field. Given Boston College's highly selective admissions (16% acceptance rate, 1501 average SAT), you might expect these graduates to dominate the state rankings rather than sit in the middle of the pack.

The debt burden tells a better story. At $19,000, it's notably lower than both the state median ($23,000) and national median ($24,125), creating a comfortable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26. However, there's an important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making it difficult to know if these results would hold with a larger sample. A single cohort's outcomes—or even just a few high earners—could be skewing the numbers significantly.

For parents paying Boston College's premium tuition, the value proposition here is unclear. The program delivers solid earnings and manageable debt, but doesn't provide the kind of dramatic advantage over state peers that you'd hope for from such a selective institution. If entrepreneurship is the goal, other Massachusetts programs might deliver comparable outcomes at lower cost—though with this small sample size, it's genuinely hard to say what's typical.

Where Boston College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all entrepreneurial and small business operations bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Boston College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (10 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Boston CollegeChestnut Hill	$67,680	$74,446	—	$19,000	0.26
Suffolk UniversityBoston	$45,380	$44,884	$45,283	$27,000	0.60
National Median	—	$45,265	—	$24,125	0.53

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with entrepreneurial and small business operations graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Personal Service Managers, All Other

All personal service managers not listed separately.

Fitness and Wellness Coordinators

Manage or coordinate fitness and wellness programs and services. Manage and train staff of wellness specialists, health educators, or fitness instructors.

Spa Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of a spa facility. Coordinate programs, schedule and direct staff, and oversee financial activities.

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

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 Boston College, approximately 13% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 25 graduates with reported earnings and 22 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.