Finance and Financial Management Services at Salve Regina University

Salve Regina's finance graduates start at $66,034—placing them 90th percentile nationally and earning more than graduates from Bryant University or Providence College, Rhode Island's top-ranked programs. Combined with below-average debt of $27,000, this creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in five months of gross income. That's an exceptional financial foundation for launching a career.

The catch: these impressive numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, which means a handful of successful students could be skewing the results upward. It's notable that despite the strong starting salary, the program ranks 60th percentile within Rhode Island—suggesting that while outcomes are solid, they're not dramatically outperforming other in-state options when you account for local market conditions. The small class size could also mean limited alumni networks and fewer on-campus recruiting opportunities compared to larger finance programs.

For parents, the calculus is straightforward: if your child fits well with Salve Regina's environment and the small cohort appeals to them, the financial risk appears minimal. The low debt load provides cushion even if actual outcomes vary from these medians, and graduates are earning well above what most finance majors nationally achieve right out of school.