Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Rollins College

A first-year salary of $37,950 from a selective private college raises questions about return on investment, particularly when comparable programs nationally produce median earnings of $45,265. While this program performs above the Florida median, it significantly trails the state's top entrepreneurship programs—Florida State graduates earn $48,625 in their first year. The estimated $25,400 in debt, while derived from similar Rollins programs rather than actual graduates in this major, translates to a monthly payment around $280 on a standard plan—manageable but substantial when paired with below-national-average starting pay.

The puzzle here is why a program at a selective institution (SAT average 1304, 41% admission rate) produces earnings in the bottom quarter nationally. Entrepreneurship degrees often appeal to students planning to start their own ventures, where first-year earnings may not reflect long-term potential. If your child intends to launch a business immediately, these salary figures become less relevant than the education's practical value. However, if they're likely to work for someone else initially, the salary-to-debt picture looks unfavorable compared to better-paying entrepreneurship programs in Florida.

Before committing, ask Rollins directly about graduate outcomes for this specific program—where do they work, how many start businesses, what does year-three income look like? The data gaps here mean you're making a $100,000+ decision with limited visibility into actual results.