Business, Management, Marketing, at Brigham Young University-Idaho

BYU-Idaho's business program delivers something unusual: graduates enter the workforce at competitive salaries—$54,631 their first year, matching the Idaho median and beating the national average by 8%—but then see their earnings drop sharply to $44,109 by year four. This 19% decline is the program's defining characteristic and deserves serious consideration. While graduates start with minimal debt burden ($16,933, well below the national median of $26,000), the erosion in earning power suggests graduates may be taking entry-level positions that don't lead to advancement, or the program may not be developing the specialized skills that drive mid-career salary growth in business fields.

The low debt figure is genuinely advantageous, especially given the school's 97% admission rate and strong LDS church subsidies that keep costs down for members. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.31, graduates can manage their loans comfortably in those first years. However, parents should focus on what happens after: as earnings decline while peers at other schools see growth, the initial affordability advantage becomes less compelling.

The practical question is whether your child plans to stay in Idaho's limited job market or pursue opportunities elsewhere. If they're targeting corporate management roles or competitive business positions, this program's trajectory suggests they may need additional credentials or experience to advance. The low debt creates flexibility for grad school or career pivoting, but shouldn't obscure the fundamental pattern of declining earnings.