Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degree) at Michigan Technological University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$50,551

Est. from MI median (30 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$26,450

Est. from MI median (12 programs)

Analysis

Michigan Tech's business program lands solidly in the middle of Michigan's business school landscape, with estimated first-year earnings around $50,500—matching the state median but trailing the top programs by considerable margins. The $26,450 in estimated debt translates to a manageable 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates can expect to earn roughly twice their debt load in their first year.

What's encouraging is the trajectory: by year four, median earnings jump to nearly $70,000, suggesting strong career progression. This puts Michigan Tech closer to Michigan State's outcomes, though still well behind U-M Ann Arbor's elite placement. Based on comparable programs across Michigan, these figures indicate a reasonable return on investment, particularly given the school's engineering-focused environment which may provide unique networking opportunities in technical industries where business graduates can command premium salaries.

The caveat here is uncertainty—both the debt and first-year earnings are estimates derived from peer programs, not actual outcomes for Michigan Tech's business graduates. For parents considering this program, the key question is whether the school's technical reputation translates into better-than-typical business outcomes. If your student is interested in business roles within STEM companies or supply chain management in manufacturing-heavy sectors, Michigan Tech's industry connections could justify the investment. Otherwise, programs with more established business school reputations and verified outcomes closer to major metro areas might offer clearer value propositions.

Where Michigan Technological University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Michigan Technological University	—	$69,803	—
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$93,674	$116,095	+24%
Oakland University	$62,359	$81,070	+30%
Michigan State University	$71,253	$79,719	+12%
Cleary University	$50,573	$71,725	+42%

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Business Administration, Management and Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (40 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Michigan Technological UniversityHoughton	$18,392	$50,551*	$69,803	$26,450*	—
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor	$17,228	$93,674*	$116,095	$19,000*	0.20
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing	$15,988	$71,253*	$79,719	$23,250*	0.33
Oakland UniversityRochester Hills	$14,694	$62,359*	$81,070	$26,000*	0.42
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale	$14,628	$57,760*	$70,536	$27,000*	0.47
University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn	$14,944	$57,102*	$69,612	$31,000*	0.54
National Median	—	$45,703*	—	$26,000*	0.57

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Michigan Technological University, approximately 18% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 30 similar programs in MI. Actual outcomes may vary.