Business Administration, Management and Operations at Purdue University Northwest

An estimated $11,686 in debt paired with first-year earnings around $43,000—based on what similar business programs in Indiana typically produce—suggests this associate's degree could pencil out financially. That debt load translates to monthly payments under $150, manageable even at the lower end of expected earnings for business graduates in the state.

What makes this estimate particularly relevant is how it compares nationally. The earnings figure aligns with Indiana's state median for business associate programs but sits substantially above the $34,000 national benchmark. Meanwhile, the estimated debt falls below both the state median ($15,300) and national median ($14,000) for this credential. Programs at Purdue Global report higher earnings, but if these estimates hold, Purdue Northwest appears positioned in the middle of Indiana's business education market—competitive with Indiana Tech and well ahead of some community college options.

The real question is whether these peer-program patterns will hold for your child specifically. The small graduate cohort that triggered these estimates means less certainty about outcomes. But the fundamentals look reasonable: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 is solidly in "good investment" territory for a two-year degree, and business skills tend to translate across employers. If your child plans to work in Northwest Indiana where Purdue has regional recognition, this estimated profile suggests decent return potential, though requesting job placement data from the program itself would help confirm whether these comparable-program figures reflect reality.