Marketing at Linfield University

Linfield's marketing graduates start at $46,734—landing exactly at the 60th percentile both nationally and among Oregon's nine marketing programs. That's a solid middle-of-the-pack performance, roughly matching what George Fox delivers and outpacing programs at University of Portland and Portland State by several thousand dollars annually.

The debt picture looks particularly attractive: $27,000 puts this in the 5th percentile nationally for borrowing, meaning 95% of marketing programs saddle students with more debt. Combined with first-year earnings, that 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates should be able to manage payments comfortably. The 22% earnings jump to $57,052 by year four also suggests decent career progression, though you're not seeing the explosive growth some business programs deliver.

The significant caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates means these numbers could shift dramatically with next year's cohort. But if you're looking at a small liberal arts college that keeps debt manageable while delivering earnings that beat larger state universities, Linfield makes a reasonable case. Just recognize you're paying for a different educational experience rather than outsized salary outcomes.