Business/Commerce at Suffolk University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests graduates of similar business programs in Massachusetts would spend about half their first-year salary servicing typical undergraduate debt—manageable by most measures. Based on comparable business programs in the state, first-year earnings around $50,800 land right at the Massachusetts median for this credential, though Suffolk's estimated figure falls well short of what Northeastern ($74,868) or UMass-Dartmouth ($59,287) graduates report earning. The estimated $25,678 in debt aligns closely with both state and national norms, meaning the real question is whether Suffolk's business program delivers earnings growth that justifies its Boston location and private-school tuition.

What complicates this picture is that we're working entirely from estimates—the Department of Education suppressed actual data for Suffolk's business graduates due to small sample sizes. That makes it difficult to assess whether this particular program matches, exceeds, or falls below the state averages we're using as proxies. The 85% admission rate and modest SAT scores suggest Suffolk casts a wider net than the highest-earning programs in Massachusetts, which may translate to different career trajectories.

The numbers suggest a viable path if your student can graduate near the estimated debt level and secure employment quickly. But given the uncertainty and the wide range of outcomes across Massachusetts business programs, you'll want to investigate Suffolk's specific career placement rates, alumni networks in Boston's business community, and whether their co-op or internship programs provide the connections that turn a middling starting salary into something better.