Business Administration, Management and Operations at Rasmussen University-Florida

Rasmussen's Florida business program charges 65% more debt than the state median yet delivers strong early-career earnings of nearly $60,000—placing graduates in the 80th percentile among Florida's 93 business programs and well ahead of the $45,000 state median. That initial advantage is real, but it comes with a significant catch: earnings actually decline to about $57,000 by year four, a pattern worth understanding before committing to $37,000 in debt.

The comparison to Florida's top earners provides useful context. While Rasmussen graduates out-earn 80% of state business programs initially, they still fall about $7,000 short of what schools like Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech deliver. More concerning is that downward earnings trajectory combined with above-average debt load. At similar Florida programs, median debt sits at just $23,000—meaning families here are borrowing $15,000 more for outcomes that don't clearly justify the premium.

For a working-class student (55% receive Pell grants), this becomes a calculated risk. The debt burden is manageable at 0.63 times first-year earnings, and that strong initial placement suggests the program has solid employer connections. But you're paying extra for advantages that apparently fade rather than compound. If your child needs the flexibility of Rasmussen's format and can leverage that $60,000 starting salary to pay down debt aggressively in those early years, it can work. Just recognize you're not buying the sustained earnings growth that typically justifies premium pricing.