Business Administration, Management and Operations at Five Towns College

Five Towns College's business program starts graduates at just $25,792—less than half the New York state median for business degrees ($42,268) and well below even the national average. This places it in the bottom 10% of business programs statewide, which is particularly concerning given that New York is home to robust business programs that regularly launch graduates into strong-earning careers. While the program carries manageable debt at about $25,500, that near-1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates start with essentially a full year's salary in loans.

The 44% earnings growth to $37,009 by year four represents solid progression, but it's climbing from an extremely low base. Even after four years, graduates still earn $5,000 less than the typical New York business graduate makes in their first year. For context, top business programs in the state like Manhattan University ($113,777) and Syracuse ($65,009) deliver roughly double to quadruple the four-year earnings. The moderate sample size suggests these results are reasonably reliable.

For an anxious parent, the question is simple: if your child is investing in a business degree, do you want them starting at $25,000 with student loans, or exploring programs that offer a realistic path to middle-class earnings from day one? The growth trajectory is encouraging, but the starting point creates years of financial struggle that stronger programs avoid entirely.