Business Administration, Management and Operations at Springfield College

At $48,790 in estimated first-year earnings, this program aligns with the median for Massachusetts business programs—but that comparison comes with significant caveats. The figures here are drawn from 33 peer programs across the state, not from Springfield College's own graduates, because too few students completed this program for the Department of Education to report outcomes. That means we're essentially using the typical Massachusetts business degree as a proxy.

The estimated debt load of $26,913 produces a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio, suggesting graduates could reasonably expect to handle loan payments if the earnings estimate holds true. However, the gap between these projected outcomes and what top Massachusetts business schools actually deliver is striking—Boston College and BU grads earn over $70,000 in their first year. Whether Springfield's smaller business program offers advantages like personalized attention or networking that could close that gap is an open question the numbers can't answer.

For families considering this investment, the core challenge is that you're betting on outcomes without school-specific evidence. The typical Massachusetts business graduate does fine, earning slightly above the national median and carrying typical debt levels. But Springfield's 70% admission rate and 1120 average SAT suggest a different student body than the state's elite business programs, which could mean different career trajectories. If your child has options at schools with proven business program outcomes—even at similar price points—those would offer more certainty.