Business, Management, Marketing, at Daemen University

Is a business degree worth $26,500 in debt when first-year earnings hover around $41,000? That's the central question for Daemen, where comparable programs in New York suggest graduates earn roughly the state median but carry debt levels that exceed it. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 sits in reasonable territory—meaning graduates would dedicate about eight months of pre-tax income to their loans—this program trails the national business graduate median by nearly $10,000 annually.

What makes this particularly worth scrutiny is the comparison point. Similar business programs across New York produce earnings in this same $39,000-$45,000 range, but peer institutions typically see debt loads closer to $23,000. That extra $3,500 in borrowing matters when you're starting at $41,000 rather than the $50,000+ that business graduates earn nationally. With 42% of Daemen students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already stretching financially.

The practical calculation is straightforward: if your child needs to borrow the full estimated amount, they're looking at monthly loan payments around $300 for ten years on a salary that translates to roughly $3,000 monthly after taxes. That's manageable but tight, especially in the first years out of college. Before committing, get clarity from Daemen's financial aid office about actual costs for your family and compare net price against SUNY options, where in-state tuition might significantly reduce that debt burden while producing similar career outcomes.