Business, Management, Marketing, at Central Baptist College

Central Baptist College's business program graduates earn slightly above both the national median ($50,740) and sit at the 60th percentile among Arkansas business programs, suggesting decent market outcomes. However, with only three schools offering this program in Arkansas, the state comparison has limited meaning. More telling is the debt picture: at $46,694, graduates leave with nearly double the national median debt load ($26,000), ranking in the 95th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with less debt.

That 0.87 debt-to-earnings ratio translates to a real burden. A graduate earning $53,451 will carry debt roughly equivalent to 87% of their first year's salary, making loan payments a significant monthly expense. While the earnings themselves are respectable for Arkansas, the debt undermines the program's value when peer institutions nationally deliver comparable salaries with half the borrowing.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. For a family considering this program, the question is whether Central Baptist's specific environment justifies taking on twice the typical debt. Unless there are compelling personal reasons—geographic constraints, denominational fit, or unique program features—Arkansas families would be wise to compare offers from other business programs where the debt burden won't consume such a large portion of early-career earnings.