Business Administration, Management and Operations at Plymouth State University

Plymouth State's business program produces earnings that trail both state and national benchmarks by a meaningful margin. At $40,902 in first-year earnings, graduates earn about $5,000 less than the typical New Hampshire business graduate and nearly $5,000 below the national median. Among the state's nine business programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable NH programs produce better outcomes. The gap widens when you compare it to flagship schools like UNH ($57,015) or even regional competitors like Franklin Pierce ($48,700).

The silver lining is modest but worth noting: debt loads are reasonable at $27,000, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. Earnings do grow 21% over four years to $49,462, which closes some of the gap. But even after that growth, graduates still lag the state median for first-year earnings at other schools.

For New Hampshire families, this matters because you're paying in-state tuition for below-median state outcomes. The 91% admission rate suggests accessibility, but if your child has options at UNH or Southern New Hampshire, those programs deliver substantially better starting salaries. Plymouth State might work if location or fit is paramount, but purely as an earnings investment, you're accepting below-average returns in a state where better business programs are readily available.