Location: Highland Heights, KY•In-State Tuition: $10,896•Out-of-State Tuition: $21,480•Admission Rate: 96%•Avg SAT: 1114
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$53,219
Est. from national median (81 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$21,125
Est. from national median (58 programs)

Analysis

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40—meaning roughly $21,000 in debt against estimated first-year earnings of $53,000—sits comfortably below the typical threshold where loan payments become burdensome. Based on comparable Business/Managerial Economics programs nationally, this suggests manageable monthly payments relative to take-home pay, though families should remember these figures reflect what similar programs produce rather than NKU's specific track record.

The estimated earnings align precisely with the national median for this major, which is useful context even if we can't verify NKU's actual outcomes. What's more telling is Kentucky's state picture: the median for comparable programs here runs about $4,000 lower at $49,566, and even Kentucky's flagship programs like UK and UofL report first-year earnings in the $48-51k range. If NKU's outcomes mirror these peer institutions rather than the national estimate, the debt ratio remains reasonable but shifts from comfortable to merely adequate.

Northern Kentucky's 96% admission rate and modest SAT profile matter less for business economics than they might for other fields—employer networks and regional job market access often count more than selectivity. Still, with both earnings and debt figures based on estimation rather than reported data, families are betting on NKU performing like its peers. If cost is truly around $21,000 in debt and outcomes land anywhere in Kentucky's typical $48-53k range, the investment pencils out, but verify actual debt before committing since estimates can miss individual circumstances.

Where Northern Kentucky University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/managerial economics bachelors's programs nationally

Northern Kentucky University (estimated ±10%)Other business/managerial economics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Kentucky

Business/Managerial Economics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kentucky (5 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Northern Kentucky UniversityHighland Heights$10,896$53,219*—$21,125*—
University of KentuckyLexington$13,212$51,081*$64,921$20,500*0.40
University of LouisvilleLouisville$12,828$48,050*$69,559$17,250*0.36
National Median—$53,219*—$22,250*0.42
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/managerial economics graduates

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Financial Risk Specialists

Analyze and measure exposure to credit and market risk threatening the assets, earning capacity, or economic state of an organization. May make recommendations to limit risk.

$101,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Management Analysts

Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.

$101,190/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master'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 Northern Kentucky University, approximately 24% 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 national median of 81 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.