Business Administration, Management and Operations at Simpson University

Simpson University's business program graduates start at $42,333—about 15% below California's median for this degree and in the bottom 40% statewide. That gap matters in a state where many public universities deliver significantly stronger outcomes: Cal Poly SLO grads earn $71,876, and even mid-tier CSU programs typically exceed $55,000. For a family paying private tuition in California, this performance raises questions about value when stronger public options exist.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $20,708, graduates carry slightly less than the state median and maintain a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning debt equals less than half of first-year income. With an open-admission policy and 42% of students on Pell grants, Simpson serves students who might struggle to access competitive public programs. For these students, graduating with modest debt and a business degree beats no degree at all.

The practical calculation: if your student can access UC or CSU business programs, those deliver substantially better earnings. But Simpson might work for students who need the small-school environment or didn't gain admission elsewhere, provided they understand they're accepting $7,000-$10,000 less in starting salary than peers at public institutions. That earning gap compounds over a career.