Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,121
Est. from OH median (25 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,289
Est. from OH median (4 programs)

Analysis

Can an associate's degree in business management from a private university deliver comparable value to community college alternatives? Based on similar programs in Ohio, Mount St. Joseph's business degree faces a substantial debt hurdle. While projected first-year earnings around $37,000 align with the state median, the estimated $26,000 in debt is 63% higher than typical borrowing for business associate's programs statewide. That gap matters: nearby community colleges like Cincinnati State and Sinclair report their graduates earning $45,000-plus with significantly less debt, making the return on investment considerably stronger.

The 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable payments—you'd be looking at roughly $290 monthly on a standard plan versus pre-tax monthly income around $3,100. But when peer programs demonstrate both higher earnings and lower debt, that comparison point becomes less reassuring. Mount St. Joseph's moderately selective profile (57% admission rate, 1068 SAT) doesn't translate into an obvious earnings advantage for this credential level, at least based on what comparable Ohio programs produce.

If your child is committed to Mount St. Joseph for specific reasons—campus environment, support services, or a clear path to their bachelor's—verify exactly what graduates of *this* program are achieving and whether the debt load justifies the premium over community college options just miles away in Cincinnati. Without that program-specific data, the estimated numbers suggest you're potentially paying private school prices for median outcomes.

Where Mount St. Joseph University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

Business Administration, Management and Operations associates's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (62 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Mount St. Joseph UniversityCincinnati$36,650$37,121*$26,289*
Ohio Christian UniversityCircleville$23,700$47,611*$32,435$22,950*0.48
Sinclair Community CollegeDayton$3,435$45,758*$48,040$13,980*0.31
Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeCincinnati$5,400$45,389*$47,213$16,689*0.37
University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati$13,570$44,944*$39,755$16,125*0.36
University of Cincinnati-Clermont CollegeBatavia$6,554$44,944*$39,755$16,125*0.36
National Median$33,977*$13,980*0.41
* 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 Mount St. Joseph University, approximately 27% 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 25 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.