Business Administration, Management and Operations at Manchester University

Manchester University's business program starts graduates nearly $10,000 behind the Indiana state median, ranking in just the 25th percentile among the state's 41 business programs. That first-year salary of $39,185 against $27,000 in debt creates a workable but tight financial picture—you're looking at manageable payments, but less breathing room than comparable programs across Indiana. Grace College graduates, for instance, earn $23,000 more right out of the gate with similar debt loads.

The 33% earnings growth to year four is the program's strongest feature, bringing graduates closer to $52,000 and narrowing the gap with state peers. However, even at that point, earnings remain below what many Indiana business programs deliver in year one. For a school with a 91% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students, these outcomes suggest the program may struggle to provide the competitive advantage many business degrees promise.

If your child is set on Manchester for other reasons—fit, campus culture, specific opportunities—the debt level won't create a crisis. But purely as a return-on-investment decision for a business degree in Indiana, you can find stronger options that deliver $15,000-$20,000 more in starting salary without meaningfully higher debt. The numbers here don't make a compelling case unless non-financial factors tip the scale.