Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Bachelor's Degree) at Nova Southeastern University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,994

Est. from FL median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,396

Est. from national median (20 programs)

Analysis

Nova Southeastern's entrepreneurship bachelor's leaves graduates an estimated $25,396 in debt for first-year earnings around $36,000—based on what similar business programs in Florida typically produce. That 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper, but dig deeper and the numbers tell a more sobering story. The estimated earnings fall nearly $10,000 below the national median for entrepreneurship degrees ($45,265), and trail programs at Florida State by over $12,000. For a private university charging premium prices, that gap matters.

The modest debt figure provides some cushion, though even at the estimated $25,396, graduates face annual payments that will claim a meaningful chunk of their first-year income. Entrepreneurship programs notoriously show wide variance in outcomes—success often depends more on individual hustle and connections than credentials—which makes this particular program's value harder to pin down when we're working from statewide estimates rather than Nova's actual graduate outcomes.

Given the uncertainty and the earnings gap compared to both state flagships and peer entrepreneurship programs, parents should request Nova's actual placement data and graduate outcomes before committing. The small sample size that triggered data suppression could signal limited recent graduates or inconsistent employment tracking—either way, you're buying into a program without clear evidence it delivers the earnings bump that justifies private school debt.

Where Nova Southeastern University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all entrepreneurial and small business operations bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (12 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale	$37,080	$35,994*	—	$25,396*	—
Florida State UniversityTallahassee	$5,656	$48,625*	—	$17,100*	0.35
Rollins CollegeWinter Park	$58,300	$37,950*	—	—*	—
The University of TampaTampa	$33,424	$34,038*	—	$27,000*	0.79
University of South FloridaTampa	$6,410	$33,249*	$32,893	—*	—
National Median	—	$45,265*	—	$24,125*	0.53

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with entrepreneurial and small business operations graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Personal Service Managers, All Other

All personal service managers not listed separately.

Fitness and Wellness Coordinators

Manage or coordinate fitness and wellness programs and services. Manage and train staff of wellness specialists, health educators, or fitness instructors.

Spa Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of a spa facility. Coordinate programs, schedule and direct staff, and oversee financial activities.

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

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 Nova Southeastern University, approximately 37% 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 4 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.