Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola's entrepreneurship program lands squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, with first-year earnings of $45,869 sitting just above the national median for this degree. Based on comparable bachelor's programs at similar private universities, graduates likely carry around $25,400 in debt—producing a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. That means you'd owe roughly 55 cents for every dollar earned in year one, well below concerning thresholds.

The challenge with entrepreneurship degrees is that they prepare students to start businesses, not necessarily to land high-paying corporate jobs right away. That $45,869 reflects immediate employment outcomes, but many graduates may be building ventures that take years to generate significant income. The estimated debt load is reasonable enough to service while getting a business off the ground, but families should understand that entrepreneurial success rarely follows a predictable timeline.

For a parent evaluating this investment, the key question is whether your child needs a four-year degree to launch a business. The program performs respectably among its peers—neither a standout nor a red flag—but entrepreneurship is one field where formal credentials matter less than execution. If your child wants the Loyola network, business fundamentals, and college experience while developing their venture, the debt burden won't be crushing. If they're already building something viable, that $100,000+ total cost of attendance might fund the business itself instead.