Finance and Financial Management Services at University of Maryland-College Park

Maryland's finance program launches graduates into $75,689 starting salaries—41% above the national median and 24% ahead of Maryland's already-strong state average. Even more impressive: earnings jump to $95,162 by year four, showing the program opens doors to genuine career progression rather than just landing that first job. Among Maryland's five finance programs, this ranks solidly in the middle (60th percentile), but the absolute numbers tell a better story than the ranking suggests—the program still outearns every other Maryland finance program tracked except UM Global Campus.

The debt picture strengthens the case: $19,500 represents just three months of first-year salary, one of the more favorable ratios you'll find in business programs. While this ranks higher nationally for debt than for earnings (80th percentile), the sub-0.3 debt-to-earnings ratio matters more than comparative debt rankings when graduates are clearing six figures within four years.

The real question is whether your child can gain admission to this selective program and thrive in its competitive environment. If they can, the investment makes financial sense—Maryland finance graduates are earning 26% more by year four, suggesting employers value the degree's combination of academic rigor and D.C.-area recruiting access. For families seeking lower debt with comparable outcomes, UM Global Campus offers similar starting salaries, though early-career trajectory data isn't available for comparison.