Business Administration, Management and Operations at Johnson University

The small sample size here is crucial context, but the pattern is still concerning: Johnson University's business graduates earn $30,767 in their first year—roughly $12,000 below Tennessee's median for this program and $15,000 below the national benchmark. That 25th percentile state ranking means three-quarters of Tennessee business programs produce better initial outcomes, including nearby University of Tennessee-Knoxville grads who earn nearly double at $59,147.

The debt picture offers some relief at $21,750, which is actually lower than both state and national medians. That 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, and earnings do climb 25% to $38,314 by year four. However, even with that growth, graduates remain far behind their Tennessee peers who started stronger and likely grew from higher bases. The 5th national percentile ranking underscores how dramatically this program underperforms compared to business degrees elsewhere.

For parents, the question is whether Johnson's faith-based mission justifies this earnings gap. At these income levels, even modest debt becomes a heavier burden, and students could likely find better returns at Tennessee's public universities or other private schools in the state. If your family is committed to Johnson specifically, understand that this business degree may require patience to reach financial stability—and even then, expect to trail peers from stronger programs.