Business Administration, Management and Operations at St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University graduates start at $33,839—well below both Florida's median of $45,072 and the national average of $45,703. Among Florida's 93 business programs, this ranks at just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable programs deliver stronger initial outcomes. The debt burden of $23,342 is manageable, but when you're earning $12,000 less than peers at other Florida schools, that advantage matters less than it appears.

The compensation trajectory tells a more complicated story. Earnings jump 56% by year four to $52,635, catching up to national benchmarks and matching what many programs deliver from day one. This suggests graduates either need time to find their footing in the job market or pursue roles with delayed payoffs. For a family weighing this investment, the question becomes whether your child can weather three years of below-market earnings—and whether that early career gap affects opportunities down the line.

The path from $33,839 to $52,635 demonstrates real growth, but starting in the bottom quarter of Florida programs means playing catch-up in a competitive job market. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to choose St. Thomas—location, specific faculty connections, or institutional fit—Florida offers dozens of business programs where graduates start closer to where these students finish.