Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations at Stephens College

Stephens College's marketing program faces a troubling pattern: four years after graduation, median earnings actually *drop* to $32,563—below where comparable programs typically start graduates around $35,800. This earnings decline isn't typical for marketing degrees and suggests graduates may struggle to find stable positions in their field or end up in roles that don't leverage their bachelor's degree.

The $27,000 debt load sits right at the national median for this major, which means the real concern isn't excessive borrowing but stagnant earning power. When University of Central Missouri's similar program shows first-year earnings of $33,422, Stephens graduates appear to be starting lower and not gaining ground. The fact that DOE suppresses Stephens' actual first-year data (likely due to small sample size) adds uncertainty—we're working from national estimates that may not reflect this specific program's outcomes.

For an anxious parent, here's what matters: if your child borrows the typical $27,000, they'll likely face payments around $300 monthly on earnings that may hover in the low $30,000s for years. That's manageable but tight, especially in Columbia where living costs aren't trivial. Before committing, push the school for actual placement data and alumni employment outcomes—where do graduates land, and in what roles? The declining earnings trajectory between years one and four is the red flag that needs explaining.