Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at University of Maryland Global Campus

A management sciences bachelor's from UMGC comes with estimated debt around $22,800—roughly $4,000 below what similar Maryland programs typically carry and $500 less than the national median. That's meaningful for students at an institution where over a quarter receive Pell grants. Based on comparable programs nationwide, first-year earnings hover around $62,000, which translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37—a manageable burden that suggests graduates could realistically tackle their loans within a few years.

The challenge is context. Within Maryland, this field shows enormous variation: University of Maryland-College Park's program reports $72,300 in first-year earnings while Coppin State sits at $39,500. UMGC's estimated figure falls between these extremes but closer to the state median of $55,900. Whether that $62,000 estimate materializes depends heavily on factors the sparse data can't illuminate—like whether students are completing degrees while already employed in relevant fields (common at schools serving adult learners) or breaking into new careers altogether.

For parents weighing this decision, the relatively modest debt load provides some cushion against uncertainty. If your student lands closer to the state median than the national one, they're still looking at debt representing less than half a year's salary. But push the school for placement data specific to this program before committing—peer program estimates can only tell you so much about what UMGC graduates actually achieve.