Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Simmons College of Kentucky

Starting a business requires capital, but entering this program means taking on an estimated $25,396 in debt—more than the national median for entrepreneurship degrees—to reach first-year earnings around $45,265. Based on comparable bachelor's programs nationally, that's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, which means roughly half a year's salary would go toward repaying loans. For a degree specifically designed to prepare students to launch their own ventures, this debt load creates an immediate barrier to the risk-taking entrepreneurship demands.

The challenge intensifies when you consider that Simmons serves a predominantly lower-income student population (43% receive Pell grants), and these estimated figures suggest outcomes similar to the national median rather than something exceptional. Entrepreneurship programs at this level typically produce modest early earnings because many graduates are building businesses rather than drawing steady salaries. That reality makes the debt burden particularly concerning—new business owners often need every dollar for operations, not loan payments.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated numbers point to a tension: entrepreneurship education may have value, but beginning with above-average debt undermines the financial flexibility that successful business ownership requires. Unless your child has a concrete business plan with outside funding or substantial savings, this program's projected debt load could delay rather than accelerate their entrepreneurial ambitions.