Business Administration, Management and Operations at Glenville State University

Starting at under $31,000, Glenville State's business graduates earn roughly $15,000 less than the typical West Virginia business grad and trail the national median by even more. While earnings do climb substantially over the next few years—reaching $48,460 by year four—this program still ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally. Even within West Virginia, where it lands at the 25th percentile, graduates from schools like University of Charleston and West Virginia University are earning 50-60% more right out of the gate.

The debt load of $25,747 is actually reasonable and roughly in line with state and national norms for business programs. The challenge isn't what students are borrowing—it's what they're earning afterward. That first-year income makes the debt harder to manage than it would be at higher-earning programs, though the situation improves considerably by year four as earnings nearly double.

One critical caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers may not represent the typical outcome. For parents considering this program, the question is whether the lower upfront cost (suggested by the high Pell grant percentage) justifies significantly trailing other West Virginia business programs. If keeping total costs minimal is the priority and your student can weather a tough first year financially, the strong earnings growth offers some hope. But other in-state options deliver better starting positions without additional debt.