Business Administration, Management and Operations at Pacific College

A business degree that costs roughly $45,000 in debt demands serious scrutiny, particularly when comparable California programs typically leave graduates with half that amount ($21,000 median). While estimated first-year earnings of $49,543 align with the state median for business bachelor's programs, that debt load creates a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning your child would owe almost an entire year's gross salary.

This estimation comes from a limited sample: Pacific College's business program is small enough that the Department of Education can't publish actual outcomes data. We're relying on state medians from similar programs, which means actual results here could be better or worse. What we do know is concerning: if these estimates hold, your child would be starting their career with roughly double the debt burden typical for California business grads, while earning similar wages. That extra $20,000-plus in loans translates to higher monthly payments and years of constrained financial flexibility during their twenties.

Given that Pacific serves a largely Pell-eligible population (51%), the high estimated debt raises real affordability questions. Before committing, get specific answers from the school: What are their actual graduate outcomes? What percentage of students complete the program? For a business degree that should open doors, starting with this much debt closes too many of them too soon.