Business Administration, Management and Operations at The University of Olivet

Olivet's business graduates start at $37,035—roughly $13,500 below Michigan's median for business programs and among the bottom quartile of similar programs statewide. For context, this is nearly half what University of Michigan-Ann Arbor grads earn and substantially less than public alternatives like Grand Valley State University ($57,760). The silver lining is meaningful earnings growth: income jumps 38% to $51,206 by year four, eventually reaching closer to competitive levels.

The $27,000 debt load is manageable at face value—matching both state and national medians. However, that first-year salary creates a 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio, which translates to tighter finances early on compared to graduates from stronger Michigan programs who start with both higher earnings and similar debt. Olivet serves a largely access-oriented student body (97% admission rate, 42% on Pell grants), which may partially explain the earnings gap, but that doesn't change the financial reality families face.

If this is your child's most affordable or accessible option, understand you're accepting below-average starting earnings with the hope that the significant four-year growth trajectory continues. Consider whether your child could gain admission to one of Michigan's public universities, where business graduates consistently earn $15,000-$20,000 more from day one—that gap matters when managing student loan payments in those critical early years.