Business Administration, Management and Operations at California Miramar University

California Miramar's business program carries an estimated debt load roughly double the typical burden for business degrees in the state. While comparable California programs graduate students with around $21,000 in debt, estimates here suggest $44,592—closer to what you'd expect from a prestigious private university, but without the earnings to match. First-year income projections align with the state median at roughly $49,500, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that means nearly a full year's salary would go toward repaying loans.

The limited graduate sample that necessitates these estimates is itself telling for a business program in a major metropolitan area. With nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, the school serves students who need their degree to deliver economic mobility, making that debt burden particularly concerning. California's business bachelor's programs span an enormous range—from Berkeley graduates earning $90,000 to programs at the median—but most manage to keep debt significantly lower than the estimated figure here.

For parents weighing this option, the core question is whether this specific program offers advantages that justify borrowing twice the state norm when the earnings outlook appears typical at best. Without actual outcome data to confirm the estimates go one way or another, you're essentially betting that this program outperforms its institutional peer group. That's a risky proposition when more established California business programs demonstrate both stronger earnings and lighter debt loads.