Business Administration, Management and Operations at Florida Institute of Technology-Online

Florida Tech's online business program produces graduates earning $63,708 their first year—40% above the national median and ranking in the 80th percentile among Florida's 93 business programs. That's impressive positioning. However, the $38,097 in typical debt is 68% higher than Florida's median for this degree, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. While manageable, that means graduates are carrying roughly 60 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one—steeper than many alternatives would demand for similar outcomes.

The earnings decline to $58,663 by year four raises questions about career trajectory. Most business graduates see their income climb as they gain experience, but this cohort's earnings actually dropped 8%. This could reflect industry-specific challenges, the nature of online program alumni's career paths, or simply the variability you'd expect from a moderate sample size. It's worth understanding whether graduates are changing industries or facing promotion barriers.

For Florida families, this program delivers top-tier first-year earnings but at premium cost. If your child can minimize borrowing through employer tuition assistance or other funding, the strong initial placement makes sense. But at full debt load, several Florida programs offer similar outcomes with substantially less financial burden—the state median debt is nearly $16,000 lower. The value proposition hinges on keeping actual borrowing well below that $38,000 median.