Business/Managerial Economics at University of Louisville

With starting salaries nearly $10,000 below the national median for business economics programs, University of Louisville presents a tradeoff between affordable entry and delayed returns. That $48,050 first-year figure ranks this program in just the 40th percentile among Kentucky's five business economics programs—though the $17,250 median debt is notably lower than both state and national averages, giving graduates breathing room while their careers develop.

The payoff timeline matters here. Four years out, earnings jump 45% to nearly $70,000, substantially closing the gap with higher-ranked programs. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 means graduates can reasonably expect to manage their loans even during those leaner early years. For Kentucky families, this program costs about $1,600 less in debt than the state median while delivering comparable outcomes to the University of Kentucky by year four.

The case for Louisville hinges on whether your child can weather below-average starting pay in exchange for strong debt terms and solid mid-career growth. It's a viable path for students who have other financial support or can live inexpensively after graduation. But if landing a competitive first job matters most—whether for loan repayment or simply proving oneself professionally—programs with stronger immediate placement numbers deserve consideration.