Business Administration, Management and Operations at Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall's business program punches well above its weight, placing graduates in the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile within Pennsylvania—remarkable for a liberal arts college competing against dedicated business schools. That $64,664 starting salary beats the national median by 42% and the PA median by 37%, putting F&M graduates ahead of much larger programs from day one.

The debt picture sweetens the deal considerably. At $19,500, graduates carry about 25% less debt than typical business majors in Pennsylvania, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 that most programs would envy. Four years out, median earnings hit $77,821, demonstrating solid progression that keeps F&M alumni competitive with larger universities. While the program doesn't quite reach the stratospheric heights of nearby Carnegie Mellon or Penn, it delivers outcomes comparable to Lehigh at a fraction of the debt burden many students face.

For families weighing a selective liberal arts education against traditional business schools, F&M offers compelling evidence that the model works. The combination of strong placement, manageable debt, and consistent growth suggests graduates are finding meaningful career traction. The moderate sample size means individual outcomes may vary, but the pattern is clear: this program delivers genuine career value without the debt load that often comes with comparable earnings elsewhere.