Business/Managerial Economics at Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University's Business/Managerial Economics program sits in an uncomfortable position: its graduates earn substantially less than peers at other Missouri schools, despite carrying comparable debt. At $49,314, first-year earnings lag nearly $29,000 behind the state median of $78,000, placing this program in just the 10th percentile among Missouri's six schools offering this degree. That gap is striking—nearby Washington University graduates earn more than double at $107,000, but even accounting for selectivity differences, this program underperforms expectations for what should be a career-focused economics degree.

The debt load itself isn't alarming at $24,000, which matches both state and national medians. But paired with below-average earnings—38th percentile nationally—the return on investment looks weak. The 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable on paper, yet it masks the real concern: graduates are entering business careers at salaries that trail both national and especially state benchmarks. For a private Jesuit university with decent academic credentials (1326 average SAT), these outcomes suggest either curriculum misalignment with employer needs or weak career placement infrastructure.

If your child is committed to studying economics in Missouri and this is the only acceptance, the debt level won't be crushing. But understand they're likely starting their career at a significant earnings disadvantage compared to peers from other state programs, which could compound over time as early salary often anchors future raises.