Business Administration, Management and Operations at Hope College

Hope College's business graduates start below Michigan's state average ($45,590 vs. $50,550) and remain there even after strong earnings growth, landing in the 40th percentile among Michigan business programs. With top programs like Michigan State and Grand Valley producing graduates who earn $10,000-$25,000 more at comparable career stages, families need to weigh whether Hope's smaller, private college environment justifies this earnings gap—especially when in-state tuition at public alternatives typically costs less.

The 33% earnings jump from year one to year four is encouraging and suggests graduates gain traction in their careers. The $26,000 median debt sits right at the national average and slightly below Michigan's typical burden, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. However, even after four years of growth, Hope graduates' $60,551 median salary trails Oakland University and Grand Valley graduates by several thousand dollars.

For families prioritizing Hope's distinctive campus culture or Christian mission, these numbers show graduates can reasonably service their debt and build solid middle-class careers. But purely from a financial perspective, Michigan's public universities deliver stronger returns for business majors, making this a choice where fit matters more than the spreadsheet suggests.