Business Administration, Management and Operations at Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College's business program sends graduates on an impressive earnings trajectory. Starting at $51,673—already $4,600 above Pennsylvania's median for business programs—graduates see their income jump 38% to reach $71,231 by year four. That growth rate matters because it suggests employers increasingly value what these graduates bring to the table as they gain experience.

The program sits solidly in the middle tier of Pennsylvania business schools, ranking at the 60th percentile statewide. It won't match the elite outcomes at Carnegie Mellon or Penn, but it outperforms most state alternatives while keeping debt remarkably contained at $27,000—lower than 75% of business programs nationally. That 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically manage their loans on a single year's salary, leaving financial breathing room that matters when you're starting a career.

For parents weighing a $27,000 debt load against strong mid-career earnings and a selective liberal arts education, the math works. This isn't the path to six-figure starting salaries, but it's a steady climb that positions graduates well above their peers nationwide by year four, without the debt burden that often comes with private college credentials.