Finance and Financial Management Services at Sullivan University

Is a bachelor's in finance worth $31,000 in debt when peer programs typically produce first-year earnings around $44,000? That's the question facing families considering Sullivan University. Based on comparable finance programs in Kentucky, graduates here would likely earn roughly the state median—substantially below what the state's flagship universities deliver. The University of Kentucky's finance grads start around $58,000, while Louisville places theirs near $52,000, creating a $8,000 to $14,000 annual earnings gap that compounds over time.

The estimated debt load of $31,000—derived from similar private institutions nationally—sits well above Kentucky's typical $22,000 for finance programs and even exceeds the national median of $23,000. Combined with earnings at the lower end of the state range, the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable but not particularly attractive loan payments. That translates to roughly $350 monthly for a decade, consuming a meaningful chunk of an entry-level finance salary.

For families weighing this investment, the gap between Sullivan's likely outcomes and Kentucky's public university options is significant enough to warrant serious consideration of alternatives. Unless Sullivan offers compelling placement advantages or connections that would elevate earnings beyond what similar Kentucky programs achieve, spending 40% more on debt to potentially earn 15-20% less creates a challenging financial equation.