Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at The College of Saint Rose

Based on comparable entrepreneurship programs in New York, first-year earnings around $38,000 fall notably short of the national median of $45,000 for this degree. While the estimated $25,400 in debt sits close to typical borrowing levels for business majors nationwide, the combination creates a debt-to-earnings ratio that's workable but tight—graduates would be dedicating roughly two-thirds of their first year's income to clearing their educational investment. That's manageable, but it leaves less cushion than you'd hope for someone launching or running a small business, where personal financial stability matters greatly.

The wider context is sobering: peer entrepreneurship programs in New York show dramatic variation, with Syracuse graduates earning $55,000 while FIT graduates start at $24,000. Without actual outcome data for Saint Rose specifically, it's difficult to know where this program truly lands on that spectrum. The school serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (39%), suggesting strong access, but estimated outcomes don't demonstrate the economic mobility you'd want to see from a bachelor's degree in business.

For a parent weighing this investment, the core question is whether $25,000 in debt for earnings potential that appears to trail national benchmarks makes sense when your student could potentially access stronger-performing programs elsewhere in New York. The estimates suggest modest returns, and in entrepreneurship—where outcomes depend heavily on execution, networking, and opportunity—program quality and connections matter enormously.