Business Administration, Management and Operations at The College of the Florida Keys

The estimated debt load here—around $19,000 based on similar Florida public colleges—looks manageable against first-year earnings that peer business programs in the state typically produce. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, graduates would owe less than half their first year's income, suggesting this program could be paid off within a few years of disciplined budgeting. That's better than the national median debt of $26,000 for business bachelor's degrees.

What's less clear is whether The College of the Florida Keys can match the career outcomes of other Florida business programs. The state benchmark of $45,000 represents the middle of the pack—programs like Embry-Riddle and Florida Tech report graduates earning $64,000 to $67,000, nearly 50% more. Since this program's figures are estimated rather than reported, you can't know whether its graduates achieve typical Florida outcomes or fall short. Location matters here: Key West's tourism-driven economy may offer different business opportunities than Miami or Orlando.

The lower debt estimate is encouraging, especially for a school serving a significant population of Pell grant recipients. If your child is committed to living in the Keys or values the small college environment, this could work financially. But if they're flexible on location, investigating business programs elsewhere in Florida with reported outcomes might reveal better return-on-investment options—particularly if they can keep debt similarly low at a school with demonstrated higher earnings.