Business Administration, Management and Operations at Nichols College

Nichols College's business program produces graduates who earn exactly the state median—$48,790—but with a significant catch: the data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers less reliable than you'd want for a major financial decision. Among Massachusetts's 44 business programs, this places Nichols squarely in the middle of the pack, though nowhere near the state's elite business schools like Babson or Bentley, where graduates start around $70,000.

The debt load of $27,000 is actually quite reasonable, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 that's better than three-quarters of business programs nationally. Graduates see solid 27% earnings growth by year four, reaching $62,043, which suggests the degree does provide a foundation for career progression. For a small liberal arts college with an 88% acceptance rate, these outcomes are respectable.

The real question is whether you're comfortable making this investment based on such limited data. The numbers suggest a perfectly average outcome—not exciting, but not alarming either. If your child is attracted to Nichols's small campus environment and needs a solid business education rather than premium starting salaries, the manageable debt makes this viable. But if they can gain admission to one of Massachusetts's stronger business programs, those institutions offer more certainty and significantly higher earning potential.