Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Maine at Farmington

A business degree from UMF costs roughly the same as competing Maine programs, but produces dramatically different results. Graduates here earn $29,685 in their first year—barely half what their peers make at the University of Southern Maine ($48,421) and one-third the earnings at Maine Maritime Academy. Even within Maine's business programs, this ranks in just the 10th percentile. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift, but that's a significant gap to explain away.

The debt load of $24,875 seems reasonable at first glance—it's slightly below national and state medians. But paired with those first-year earnings, you're looking at a debt-to-income ratio of 0.84, meaning nearly a full year's salary goes toward paying off the degree. That's manageable if earnings grow quickly, but starting at under $30,000 in a state where business graduates typically begin at $45,000 raises questions about the types of roles these graduates are securing or whether some are underemployed initially.

For a family considering this program, the key question is whether the small-school environment and Farmington location justify starting your career $15,000+ behind peers from USM or UMaine, both of which offer broader alumni networks and similar tuition. If your child has specific ties to the region or values the intimate setting, understand they'll likely need to be proactive about internships and career planning to close that earnings gap.