Business Administration, Management and Operations at Bucknell University

Bucknell's selective business program faces an unusual data gap—the Department of Education can't publish actual graduate outcomes because too few students complete this degree each year. That means we're looking at estimates based on 64 similar business programs across Pennsylvania, which suggest first-year earnings around $47,000 and debt near $27,000. The good news? Four years out, graduates report median earnings of $79,700—one of the few actual figures we have—suggesting strong mid-career momentum that far exceeds the state median.

The estimated debt picture looks reasonable at face value: a 0.57 ratio means roughly seven months of first-year salary to cover loans. However, comparable business programs at Pennsylvania's other selective institutions—Carnegie Mellon, Penn, Lehigh—produce dramatically higher starting salaries ($70,000-$96,000 versus the estimated $47,000 here). Given Bucknell's 32% admission rate and 1389 average SAT score, parents might reasonably expect outcomes closer to these peer schools rather than the Pennsylvania state average.

The jump to $80,000 by year four suggests Bucknell graduates eventually catch up to stronger starting positions elsewhere. But with limited actual data on this specific program, you're essentially betting on the school's overall reputation and network rather than proven outcomes in business specifically. The small cohort size that triggers data suppression could indicate either an intimate program or one that's not a campus priority—worth investigating directly with the school.