Business Administration, Management and Operations at Jamestown Business College

Jamestown Business College produces a confusing picture for business majors—but the unusually low debt load deserves serious consideration. At $15,850, graduates carry roughly 40% less debt than the New York state median ($25,000) and dramatically less than the national benchmark ($26,000). This puts them among the 5% of programs nationwide with the lowest debt burden, which matters enormously when starting salaries sit at $38,438.

The earnings tell a more sobering story. While these graduates rank in the 40th percentile among New York business programs—essentially middle-of-the-pack statewide—they fall to the 19th percentile nationally, trailing the national median by over $7,000. Compare this to what elite New York programs deliver (Manhattan University grads earn nearly triple), and the gap is stark. The modest 4% earnings growth over four years suggests limited career acceleration. However, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.41, these graduates can actually pay down their loans—something that's increasingly rare in higher education.

For families with limited resources (69% of students here receive Pell grants), this program offers a crucial trade-off: less earning potential but manageable debt. If your child needs to work immediately after graduation without crushing loan payments, that calculation might work. Just know the small sample size here means these numbers could swing significantly year to year.