Business Administration, Management and Operations at Mount St. Joseph University

Mount St. Joseph's business program sits squarely in the middle of the pack nationally but ranks in just the 40th percentile among Ohio business programs—a meaningful distinction since most families will compare in-state options. Starting salaries of $45,150 lag behind Ohio's median of $45,641, and the gap widens when you look at top state programs: Miami University grads earn 50% more right out of the gate. With 64 business programs in Ohio alone, parents should ask why this one.

The debt picture offers one clear advantage: at $29,750, graduates carry about 10% more than the national median but still maintain a manageable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio. Earnings do grow 21% over four years to $54,627, which is respectable progression. However, these numbers come from a small sample size—under 30 graduates—so they may not reflect typical outcomes.

For Ohio families paying in-state tuition at a small Catholic institution, this might work if the personal attention matters to your child. But from a pure numbers perspective, several state universities deliver significantly stronger earning power for similar or lower debt. If your student can get into Bowling Green or Cincinnati, the earnings advantage would be substantial enough to offset any difference in borrowing costs.