Est. Earnings (1yr)
$47,041
Est. from PA median (64 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,960
Est. from PA median (10 programs)

Analysis

Pennsylvania's business programs show massive variation—Carnegie Mellon grads earn nearly twice what most state programs produce—making it crucial to understand where a particular school fits. Based on comparable business programs across Pennsylvania, Cheyney appears to track right at the state median, with estimated first-year earnings around $47,000 and debt near $26,000. These figures suggest solid middle-of-the-pack performance for a business bachelor's, though they're derived from peer institutions rather than Cheyney's specific graduate outcomes.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 is manageable—graduates would owe about half their first-year salary, which typically means reasonable monthly payments. The earnings trajectory looks stable, with year-four income holding steady around $48,000, though this doesn't show the dramatic growth some programs achieve. For families where 41% of students receive Pell grants, this represents an accessible path into business careers without crushing debt.

The practical question is whether this program prepares students for those median outcomes or falls short. Without Cheyney's actual graduate data, parents should dig into career services strength, internship placement rates, and where recent alumni have landed jobs. The estimated numbers suggest a viable investment if the program delivers on fundamentals, but you'll need to verify that Cheyney's specific support systems can help your child reach those Pennsylvania benchmarks.

Where Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Cheyney University of Pennsylvania$47,744
Carnegie Mellon University$95,891$123,200+28%
University of Pennsylvania$91,443$90,686-1%
Lehigh University$69,289$86,039+24%
Franklin and Marshall College$64,664$77,821+20%

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Business Administration, Management and Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (82 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Cheyney University of PennsylvaniaCheyney$10,904$47,041*$47,744$25,960*
Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh$63,829$95,891*$123,200$23,250*0.24
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia$66,104$91,443*$90,686$20,348*0.22
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem$62,180$69,289*$86,039$20,500*0.30
Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster$68,380$64,664*$77,821$19,500*0.30
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh$21,524$62,675*$74,000$21,000*0.34
National Median$45,703*$26,000*0.57
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, approximately 41% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 64 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.