Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science

The estimated $25,000 debt load here sits right at the national median for entrepreneurship bachelor's programs, but it's paired with first-year earnings that fall $7,500 short of what similar programs produce nationally. Based on comparable programs in New York, graduates typically earn around $38,000 in their first year—a figure that reflects the wide disparity in outcomes across the state, from Fashion Institute of Technology's $24,000 to Syracuse's $55,000. At 0.67, the debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it does mean dedicating a substantial chunk of early income to loan payments during the critical startup phase when young entrepreneurs often need maximum financial flexibility.

The challenge with entrepreneurship programs is that traditional salary data tells only part of the story. Many graduates launch businesses where early income looks modest on paper while they're building equity and infrastructure. However, peer programs suggest that even those taking traditional employment paths aren't commanding premium starting salaries. For a family paying private college tuition at a school with a 91% admission rate, that's worth weighing carefully against state universities or SUNY options where the same estimated debt might be paired with lower total college costs.

If your child is set on entrepreneurship education, push for details on mentorship networks, funding competitions, and alumni business launch rates—the intangibles that might justify similar costs when the salary outcomes don't differentiate this program from less expensive alternatives.