Business/Commerce at Pace University

The $31,000 debt load here sits above both state and national medians for business degrees, while first-year earnings—estimated from comparable New York programs—land right at the state typical of $53,966. That's roughly $8,000 more than the national median for business graduates, reflecting New York's higher cost of living and concentration of corporate employers. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 means graduates carry about seven months of their first-year salary in loans, manageable but not exceptional given the state's job market advantages.

What changes the picture is year four: earnings jump to $89,017, suggesting strong mid-career momentum that outpaces most business programs nationally. This trajectory matters because it means the premium you're paying in debt—$8,000 over the state median—gets absorbed more quickly than the first-year numbers alone would suggest. The challenge is that first-year figure is an estimate based on peer programs, not Pace's actual graduate outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this specific cohort will match that state benchmark.

For families comfortable with above-average debt in exchange for access to New York City's finance and corporate sectors, the four-year earnings provide meaningful reassurance. If you're debt-averse or uncertain your student will land in high-growth business roles, programs with lower debt loads—particularly CUNY options—offer a less leveraged entry point to similar markets.