Business Administration, Management and Operations at Kean University

Kean University's business program delivers exactly what you'd expect from a regional state university—middle-of-the-pack earnings with manageable debt. Starting at $45,782 and climbing to $53,403 after four years, graduates earn slightly more than the New Jersey median for business programs, landing in the 60th percentile statewide. More importantly, with just $27,018 in debt, the financial burden here is actually lighter than average (25th percentile nationally), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 that most graduates can handle.

The real question is whether that initial salary gap matters to your family. Kean graduates start $15,000 behind Rutgers business grads and nearly $25,000 behind Stevens, though they're paying significantly less in tuition. The 17% earnings growth over four years is solid, suggesting graduates gain traction in the job market. For students who need an affordable path to a business degree—particularly the 46% here on Pell grants—this program offers reasonable value without the debt trap that plagues many schools.

The straightforward math: If your child can get into Rutgers (similar admission standards, better outcomes), that's probably worth the extra investment. But if Kean represents their realistic college option, or if minimizing debt is the priority, this program won't derail their financial future. They'll just need to work harder early in their career to close that earnings gap.