Business Administration, Management and Operations at Oregon Institute of Technology

Business programs in Oregon typically produce first-year earnings around $48,000, and at Oregon Tech, graduates reach $58,000 by year four—putting them above the state median and well ahead of the $46,000 national benchmark. With estimated debt of $25,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 suggests manageable loan payments: graduates would likely dedicate roughly 5-6% of their gross income to debt service, leaving room for other financial goals.

What's harder to assess here is trajectory. The jump from an estimated $48,000 in year one to a reported $58,000 by year four represents solid growth, but we're comparing an estimate against actual data. This matters because Oregon Tech's tech-oriented environment and location in a smaller market might create a different earnings profile than typical business programs statewide. The school's high admission rate and modest test scores suggest accessibility, but don't necessarily predict individual outcomes—especially in business fields where internships, networking, and specialization often matter more than selectivity.

The fundamentals look reasonable: debt is below both state and national medians, and mid-career earnings exceed benchmarks. But given the limitations of the data, parents should verify what specializations and career support actually exist at Oregon Tech's campus. A business degree's value depends heavily on those specifics, and estimates from peer programs can only tell you so much about what this particular school delivers.