Business/Managerial Economics at Cedarville University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40 represents a manageable starting point for a business economics degree, though parents should recognize these figures come from comparable programs rather than Cedarville's actual graduate outcomes. The estimated $24,000 in debt sits slightly above the national median for this major, while the estimated $60,236 first-year earnings—drawn from Ohio's median for business/managerial economics programs—would land a graduate at the 75th percentile nationally. This suggests strong regional performance, with similar Ohio programs consistently producing earnings around this level.

The challenge here is limited transparency. When a school's graduate cohort is too small to report publicly, families are essentially betting on peer program performance rather than verified track record. Other Ohio schools like Miami University and Ohio State report actual outcomes in the same $60-62k range, which supports the estimate, but there's inherent uncertainty when applying state averages to a specific institution. Cedarville's selective admissions (SAT average of 1246) and low Pell enrollment (15%) suggest a relatively advantaged student body, which could work in graduates' favor but doesn't guarantee outcomes will match state norms.

The estimated numbers pencil out reasonably—paying off $24,000 on a $60,000 salary is feasible with discipline. But parents should press the school directly for graduate employment data, typical job placements, and employer relationships before committing, since the government data can't confirm whether Cedarville's program specifically delivers on the promise these estimates suggest.