Business/Commerce at University of Maryland-College Park

The University of Maryland-College Park is a selective flagship where actual graduate outcomes aren't publicly available, but comparable business programs across Maryland suggest modest first-year earnings around $50,500. That figure sits right at the state median and slightly above the national benchmark of $47,500—reasonable but hardly exceptional for a university with a 1463 average SAT score and a competitive Robert H. Smith School of Business. The estimated $23,600 in debt translates to a manageable 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio, though this falls below the state's typical $26,000 for business degrees.

What's striking is how peer programs in Maryland show a wide range: Strayer graduates reportedly earn $55,400 in their first year, while Washington College sits closer to $48,700. UMD's position in the middle of this pack—paired with its stronger academic profile—raises questions about whether its business degree delivers the career acceleration you'd expect from a flagship. The suppressed data makes it impossible to know if UMD's actual outcomes beat or trail these estimates.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated debt load appears reasonable relative to likely earnings, but you're essentially betting on a school's reputation without knowing if its business program actually outperforms less selective alternatives. If career services, alumni networks, and specific concentrations within Smith matter to your family, those intangibles become more important than usual when concrete outcomes remain uncertain.