Business Administration, Management and Operations at Saint Johns River State College

Saint John's River State College graduates start at $37,325—roughly $8,000 below both the national and Florida medians for business administration degrees. Among Florida's 93 business programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs deliver better initial earnings. The debt load of nearly $29,000 exceeds the state median by $6,300, creating an immediate financial squeeze with a first-year debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78.

The trajectory improves significantly: earnings jump 31% to nearly $49,000 by year four, eventually surpassing state and national medians. This growth pattern suggests graduates who stick it out can reach competitive compensation levels, but they'll spend those early years catching up financially while managing above-average debt payments.

For Florida families, this represents a gamble on delayed returns. Your student would likely start behind peers from other in-state programs—including many with lower debt burdens—but could close that gap within four years. If you're considering this program, run the numbers on what those first few years of lower earnings and higher debt payments actually mean for your household budget. The long-term outcome may be acceptable, but the short-term financial reality deserves careful planning.