Business/Commerce at Midway University

With an estimated $24,509 in debt for an associate's degree—nearly double the national median for business programs—this investment requires scrutiny. The debt estimate comes from similar private institutions in Midway's network, but here's the catch: Kentucky business associate's programs that do report data show dramatically different outcomes. Thomas More University's business graduates earn $83,571 in their first year, more than double the $36,591 that national peer programs suggest for Midway's graduates.

That gap matters enormously for debt repayment. A 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio might seem manageable on paper, but only if those earnings estimates hold true. If actual outcomes track closer to Kentucky's median, you're looking at a much stronger investment. If they track to the national estimate, your child faces years of repayment on income that may not support it comfortably. The school serves nearly half Pell-eligible students with a 95% admission rate, suggesting broad access but also raising questions about whether resources match the tuition being charged.

Before committing, pin down what Midway's actual business graduates earn—call the school directly and ask for placement data or alumni outcomes they can verify. With such wide variance in Kentucky's market, estimates from dissimilar national programs tell you very little about what awaits after graduation here.