Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Concordia University-Wisconsin

Borrowing $25,396 to enter the entrepreneurial world through a bachelor's program carries inherent risk, especially when peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $45,000. That 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory compared to many business degrees, but entrepreneurship majors face a particular challenge: the credential matters less than execution, and many successful entrepreneurs skip the formal degree entirely.

What complicates the picture here is that we're working entirely with estimates—both the earnings and debt figures come from comparable programs nationally rather than Concordia-Wisconsin's own graduates. The estimated debt actually runs higher than Wisconsin's state median of $18,785 for this major, which suggests this program may cost more than in-state public alternatives. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, for instance, reports actual earnings of $45,373 for its entrepreneurship grads at what's likely a lower price point for Wisconsin residents.

For parents considering this investment, the central question isn't whether the numbers work—they're manageable if your child takes a traditional job—but whether a $25,000+ debt load makes sense when entrepreneurship rewards risk-taking and often requires additional capital to launch ventures. If your child plans to work for someone else first, that's one calculation; if they're eager to start a business immediately, graduating with less debt from a state school might preserve the financial flexibility they'll need most.