Business Administration, Management and Operations at Hodges University

An associate's degree in business management that costs roughly $33,000 in debt deserves scrutiny, especially when comparable programs in Florida suggest first-year earnings around $39,000. That debt load is significantly higher than the state median of $20,000 for similar programs and more than double the national median of $14,000. The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 means nearly a full year's salary going toward loans—a burden that could delay other financial goals for years.

The earnings estimate itself sits right at Florida's median for business associate's programs, which is respectable but hardly distinctive. What's concerning is the gap between what you're paying and what you're likely getting. Florida's community colleges and state colleges routinely place business graduates in similar salary ranges while keeping debt dramatically lower. Broward College and St. Petersburg College, for instance, report outcomes in the high $40,000s to low $50,000s—and their students typically graduate with far less debt than Hodges estimates suggest.

For an anxious parent, the math here is straightforward: you're looking at private-school debt for community-college-level outcomes. Unless Hodges offers something specific your child can't get elsewhere—particular industry connections, a unique curriculum, or flexibility that justifies the premium—Florida's public colleges deliver better value in this field. The 25% Pell grant rate suggests Hodges serves some lower-income students, which makes the high debt estimate even more troubling.