Business Administration, Management and Operations at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods graduates earn about $5,000 less than the typical Indiana business graduate—landing in the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters when you consider that nearby alternatives like Ball State and Indiana Wesleyan produce graduates earning $58,000-$62,000 within the first year. The debt load of $24,805 is actually slightly below both state and national medians, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. For context, you're looking at roughly half a year's salary in debt, which is reasonable by today's standards.

The major caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, which means these numbers could swing considerably year to year. That said, the pattern is consistent: below-median earnings for Indiana with below-median debt. The school serves a population where half receive Pell grants, suggesting it may prioritize access over elite outcomes.

If your child is set on Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for fit or scholarship reasons, the debt picture won't bury them. But if maximizing early career earnings is the priority, Indiana offers stronger business programs at similar or lower net costs. The question is whether the smaller, private college environment justifies earning $10,000-$15,000 less annually than peers at state universities.