Business Administration, Management and Operations at Chestnut Hill College

Chestnut Hill College's business program produces graduates who earn slightly above the median for Pennsylvania business degrees, but the real story is what happens after that first paycheck. Starting at $49,000 puts graduates in the 60th percentile statewide—solidly middle-of-the-pack among PA's 82 business programs. Four years later, earnings jump to just over $60,000, a 23% gain that suggests steady career progression rather than quick plateaus.

The financial math here is straightforward: with $27,000 in median debt and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, graduates aren't drowning in payments while building their careers. That debt load matches exactly what's typical for Pennsylvania business programs, while the school actually ranks in the 25th percentile nationally for debt—meaning three-quarters of similar programs leave students with more to repay. For a private college serving a population where nearly half receive Pell grants, that's noteworthy restraint.

This won't put graduates on track for the six-figure salaries that Carnegie Mellon or Penn deliver, but it's delivering what most families need from a business degree: immediate employability at middle-class wages with manageable debt and room to grow. The moderate sample size suggests consistent outcomes without wild variation year to year.