Business Administration, Management and Operations at Linfield University

Linfield's business program delivers below-average earnings while maintaining manageable debt levels—a combination that creates a reasonable but unexceptional value proposition for Oregon families. At $43,512, first-year earnings trail both the state median ($47,555) and national average ($45,703), placing graduates squarely in the 40th percentile among Oregon business programs. Meanwhile, the $27,000 median debt sits right at national norms, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62 that most graduates should be able to handle within a few years.

The challenge here is opportunity cost: several Oregon alternatives deliver significantly stronger outcomes. George Fox graduates earn $20,000 more annually with similar debt burdens, while even Portland State—a larger public institution—produces $8,000 higher starting salaries. For a private university charging premium tuition, Linfield's business program doesn't appear to generate the earnings premium that typically justifies private school costs.

This program works best for students prioritizing Linfield's specific campus experience or geographic location over pure financial returns. The debt burden won't derail a graduate's finances, but families should recognize they're paying for the Linfield experience rather than distinctive career outcomes. If maximizing early-career earnings matters most, other Oregon business programs offer substantially better returns.