Business/Commerce at Kentucky State University

Kentucky State's business program ranks in the bottom 10% of Kentucky business programs for earnings outcomes, with graduates making $41,280 less than those from Sullivan University and nearly $8,000 below the state median. First-year earnings of just $27,013 lag dramatically behind what business majors typically see elsewhere in the state, though the program does show strong earnings growth of 56% by year four.

The debt load of $30,750 compounds these weak earnings—it's higher than both national and state medians for business programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that means graduates owe more than they'll make in their first year. For comparison, University of Kentucky business grads earn $49,431 early in their careers while carrying similar debt levels. Even accounting for Kentucky State's mission serving low-income students (57% receive Pell grants), these economics are challenging.

The small sample size here is critical—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a handful of outcomes could skew these numbers significantly. If your child is considering this program, the earnings data suggests they'd likely see better returns at other Kentucky public universities, where business programs cluster around $45,000-49,000 in early-career earnings with comparable or lower debt.