Business Administration, Management and Operations at Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University's business graduates start strong—earning $56,606 in their first year, well above the national median of $45,703. That 87th percentile national ranking sounds impressive, but context matters: among Colorado business programs, this lands in the 60th percentile, trailing schools like CSU Global ($69,863) and even the state median of $53,001 by a decent margin. The $24,870 debt load is reasonable and below Colorado's typical $26,000, creating a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should handle comfortably.

The real concern is what happens next. Earnings actually slip to $54,734 by year four—a 3% decline when most business graduates see their salaries rise. This suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling relatively quickly, whether due to the types of entry-level roles they access or limitations in career advancement. With 33% of students receiving Pell grants, many families are counting on upward mobility that these numbers don't quite show.

For the right student—particularly one drawn to CCU's faith-based mission who plans to stay in Colorado—this program offers solid first-year outcomes without crushing debt. But if your child is purely weighing business programs on career trajectory, schools like CSU Global or CU Boulder show stronger earning potential, especially over time.