Business/Commerce at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Central Methodist's business program produces concerning results, with graduates earning $39,435 in their first year—about $8,000 below Missouri's median and landing in just the 16th percentile nationally. Even within Missouri, where this program ranks in the 25th percentile, graduates trail the state median by roughly $8,200. For comparison, Missouri's flagship in Columbia produces business grads earning $56,000 initially, while even Columbia College and Lindenwood deliver nearly $48,000.

The debt picture offers some relief at $22,732, which matches the Missouri median and sits below the national average. That 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, and earnings do grow 18% to $46,508 by year four. However, that four-year mark still falls short of what competitors deliver right out of the gate. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) confirms these aren't statistical flukes.

For families weighing this option, understand that your child would likely start their career earning substantially less than peers from other Missouri business programs, despite similar debt loads. Unless significant merit aid or location-specific factors make Central Methodist particularly attractive, Missouri offers multiple business programs with stronger earning outcomes at comparable or lower cost. The question isn't whether graduates can manage the debt—it's whether they could earn $10,000+ more annually by choosing differently.