Business Administration, Management and Operations at Union University

Union University's business graduates start strong—exceptionally strong, in fact—with first-year earnings of $58,201 that place them among Tennessee's top programs and well above 90% of business programs nationwide. The initial numbers look outstanding, with manageable debt just above $33,000. But here's the complication every parent needs to understand: by year four, median earnings drop sharply to $36,947, a 36% decline that's difficult to explain away.

This earnings pattern suggests graduates may be taking high-paying entry positions that don't lead to stable career trajectories, or perhaps some are transitioning to graduate school or different career paths. Among Tennessee's 38 business programs, Union ranks in the 80th percentile—competitive with UT-Knoxville and other respected schools—but that ranking is based entirely on that strong first-year showing. The year-four reality tells a very different story about career progression.

The fundamental question is whether that impressive launch is worth the investment if earnings potentially stagnate or decline. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 based on first-year income, graduates start ahead, but if their earnings trajectory resembles the median graduate's path, they'll be earning less than many Tennessee peers within a few years. Before committing, your family should dig into placement data: which specific employers hire Union business grads, and what's the retention and advancement picture at those companies?