Business Administration, Management and Operations at Madonna University

Madonna University's business program places graduates at $35,691 in their first year—roughly $15,000 below Michigan's median for business degrees and $10,000 under the national average. Among Michigan's 40 business programs, this ranks at just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable state programs deliver stronger early earnings. The debt load of $27,029 is typical for the field, but when paired with these below-average earnings, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 that will require careful financial planning in those early career years.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift significantly with more data, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention. Michigan students have access to numerous business programs where graduates earn $50,000+ right away—nearly $15,000 more than Madonna's typical outcome. Even accounting for Madonna's accessible admissions and lower test scores, the earnings gap is substantial enough that families should seriously weigh whether the premium they're paying for a private university education translates into comparable career outcomes. For a business degree in Michigan, stronger returns appear available elsewhere.