Business/Commerce at Transylvania University

Transylvania University's business program shows a dramatic earnings trajectory that starts at the bottom but ultimately reaches solid middle-class income—though the early struggle is real and the data comes from a very small sample of graduates. That first-year median of $31,614 ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and trails most Kentucky business programs by $10,000-15,000, including larger state schools like UK and NKU. However, four years out, earnings more than double to $64,225, surpassing both the state median ($41,280) and national benchmark ($47,506).

The $26,044 in debt is exactly average for business majors nationwide, but the weak initial earnings create a tougher first few years of repayment than typical for this field. The bright spot: graduates who weather those lean early years appear to catch up and potentially exceed their peers from larger Kentucky programs. That said, the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means a few high or low earners could skew the picture significantly.

For families comfortable with a longer runway to financial stability, this program eventually delivers. But if your student needs strong immediate earnings to manage debt or family obligations, the safer bet might be UK or Northern Kentucky, where first-year earnings start $10,000-15,000 higher. The late-blooming pattern here works best for students with financial cushion during the launch years.