Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Johnson & Wales University's entrepreneurship program graduates earn significantly less than the national norm—roughly $14,000 below what similar programs produce nationwide. Starting at $31,000 and climbing to $38,500 after four years, these earnings trail the national median by about 15-32%. However, Rhode Island's market for entrepreneurship graduates appears uniquely challenging: this program actually performs at the median for the state, suggesting the issue may be as much about Rhode Island's small business ecosystem as the program itself.

The debt load of $25,500 seems manageable at first glance, but the 0.82 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates spend nearly 10 months of their first year's salary just covering their educational investment. That's workable for someone committed to building a business in Rhode Island, but problematic if your child expects to match national entrepreneurship salary standards. The 24% earnings growth over four years is positive, though it still leaves graduates well below what peers at most other schools achieve right out of the gate.

For families considering this program, understand that you're essentially paying for entrepreneurial training in a market that doesn't reward it as generously as other regions. If your child plans to launch a business in Rhode Island or values the hands-on experience Johnson & Wales provides, the modest debt load makes this viable. But if they're hoping for stronger initial earning power or geographic flexibility, they'll likely find better ROI elsewhere—starting with an in-state public option if entrepreneurship is the goal.