Business Administration, Management and Operations at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology

Spartan College's business graduates earn $56,180 their first year out—ranking in the 80th percentile among Oklahoma business programs and outperforming the state median by nearly 30%. That's a notable achievement for a specialized aeronautics institution, placing graduates just behind the University of Oklahoma and ahead of Oklahoma State's business program. The aviation industry context likely drives these strong outcomes, as business roles in aerospace and technical industries tend to command higher salaries than general management positions.

The debt picture requires attention, though it's not disqualifying. At $34,250, graduates carry about $9,000 more than the typical Oklahoma business student, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. That means roughly seven months of gross income to cover the loan balance—manageable, but higher than the six-month benchmark many financial advisors prefer. The premium likely reflects Spartan's specialized focus and smaller scale compared to state universities, where business programs benefit from economies of scale.

For families weighing this option, the calculation is straightforward: you're paying about $9,000 extra for a program that delivers $12,000 more in first-year earnings than the Oklahoma median. If those earnings advantages persist—and they often do when industry connections are strong—the premium pays for itself quickly. This makes sense for students drawn to aviation-related business careers, less so for those seeking traditional corporate paths where OU or Oklahoma State might offer similar outcomes at lower cost.