Business Administration, Management and Operations at Rockhurst University

Rockhurst's business program hits the sweet spot many families are looking for: above-average earnings with below-average debt. First-year graduates earn $51,887—comfortably above both the national median ($45,703) and Missouri's median ($42,524) for business programs. More impressively, they graduate with just $23,250 in debt, roughly $3,000 less than typical business majors. That 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than half their first year's salary, making the monthly payments manageable on an entry-level business income.

Within Missouri, this program sits in the 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack among 42 schools offering business degrees. You'll find higher earners at specialized schools like Ranken Technical College or flagship alternatives like Columbia College, but Rockhurst delivers competitive outcomes at a Jesuit liberal arts institution that only admits about two-thirds of applicants. The moderate sample size suggests a stable, established program rather than an experimental one.

For families weighing private versus public options in Kansas City, this is straightforward: your child will likely start their career earning more than most Missouri business graduates while carrying less debt. The numbers don't promise exceptional outcomes, but they do promise solid, dependable returns—which is often exactly what business majors and their families are seeking.