Business Administration, Management and Operations at Saint Peter's University

Saint Peter's business program presents a puzzling profile: graduates start at just $27,543—placing this in the bottom 10% of New Jersey business programs—yet earnings nearly double to over $51,000 within four years. Compare that to the state median of $45,197, and you can see graduates eventually catch up. The question is whether starting $17,000 below your peers is an acceptable tradeoff, especially when Rutgers campuses produce graduates earning $59,000 right out of the gate.

The $19,000 debt load is actually lower than both state and national medians, which helps offset the weak starting salary. Within four years, the debt-to-earnings ratio improves considerably as salaries climb. Still, that first year is rough—you're making less than many high school graduates with vocational training, and while 54% of students receive Pell grants (suggesting the school serves lower-income families), those families need immediate earning power, not a four-year wait for competitive wages.

If your child can secure strong internships during college to boost that starting salary, or if you can financially support them through that first year or two, the program's trajectory improves significantly. But there are 30 business programs in New Jersey, and most offer a better immediate return. Unless Saint Peter's provides unique value through location or connections in Jersey City, the delayed payoff makes this a risky choice compared to nearby alternatives.