Business Administration, Management and Operations at Peru State College

Peru State's business program starts students about $5,000 below the state median for Nebraska business grads, and that gap persists even as earnings grow over time. At the 40th percentile statewide, this program trails not just private schools like Bellevue and Doane, but also all three University of Nebraska campuses. The $42,847 starting salary is roughly $5,000 behind UNL and nearly $8,000 behind UNO—schools where in-state tuition would be comparable.

The debt picture of $25,815 is reasonable and matches the Nebraska median exactly, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.60. The 25% earnings growth to $53,399 by year four shows solid career progression. For students who need a smaller campus environment or have strong ties to southeast Nebraska, this becomes viable—you're not taking on excessive debt for significantly lower outcomes.

However, if your student can get into any of the University of Nebraska campuses, the earnings data suggests they should seriously consider those options instead. The $10,000+ gap compared to Bellevue is even more stark. This program works as a safety option for students who need to stay local, but Nebraska has better business programs at similar price points.