Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University's management sciences program underperforms both state and national benchmarks by a significant margin. Starting earnings of $48,375 fall roughly $12,000 below Florida's median for this program and nearly $14,000 behind the national figure. Among the nine Florida schools offering this degree, JU ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state programs deliver better outcomes. For context, University of Florida and Florida State graduates in this field start around $60,000-$63,000.

The $25,000 debt load sits above Florida's median ($18,750) for this program, though the 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable in absolute terms. Earnings do grow 15% by year four, reaching $55,574, but that still trails what graduates from stronger programs earn right out of the gate. The small sample size—under 30 graduates—adds uncertainty, though the consistent underperformance across metrics suggests these aren't statistical flukes.

If your child is drawn to quantitative management, Florida's public universities offer substantially better returns at likely lower cost. Jacksonville's mid-50s acceptance rate and modest academic profile don't explain away the earnings gap. Unless this school offers compelling non-financial advantages—location, specific faculty connections, or scholarship money that dramatically reduces that debt load—the numbers point toward exploring alternatives within Florida's system first.