Business, Management, Marketing, at Duquesne University

Business programs in Pennsylvania show a wide earnings range, and Duquesne's estimated outcomes fall right at the state median—$36,089 in first-year earnings against roughly $27,000 in debt. That's substantially below the national median of $50,740 for business bachelor's degrees, though it matches what similar Pennsylvania programs typically produce. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 suggests manageable monthly payments, but the gap between these estimated earnings and national benchmarks raises questions about whether this program positions graduates competitively beyond the regional market.

The bigger concern here is the earnings trajectory. Similar programs in Pennsylvania appear to produce first-year salaries that lag the national business graduate average by nearly $15,000—a gap that compounds significantly over time. While business degrees typically offer strong mid-career growth, starting this far behind the national curve means Pennsylvania business graduates may struggle to catch up, particularly if they're competing for positions against peers from higher-earning programs. The school's 79% admission rate and modest 18% Pell enrollment suggest a primarily middle-class student body that likely needs those earnings to materialize relatively quickly.

Given that both the debt and earnings figures are estimates based on peer institutions, you're essentially betting on Duquesne performing similarly to the median Pennsylvania business program. If stronger outcomes were the norm here, there would likely be enough graduates reporting data to publish actual figures. That's not definitive, but it's worth considering alongside the regional versus national earnings gap.