Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth's business program sits squarely in the middle nationally but trails most Massachusetts competitors by a meaningful margin. At $46,382 in first-year earnings, graduates earn slightly more than the national median but about $2,400 less than the typical Massachusetts business graduate—landing in just the 40th percentile statewide. With 44 business programs across Massachusetts, that puts UMass Dartmouth in the bottom half of what is admittedly a competitive market dominated by specialized schools like Babson and Bentley.

The debt picture offers some reassurance: $26,000 is manageable relative to starting salaries, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 that most families can work with. Earnings do grow to nearly $50,000 by year four, though that 8% increase merely keeps pace with inflation rather than representing real wage growth. For families paying in-state tuition at a public university, this represents solid value—you're getting predictable, middle-of-the-road outcomes without the price tag of Boston's private business schools.

The calculation changes if you're comparing this to other Massachusetts public options or paying out-of-state rates. UMass Dartmouth's 92% admission rate signals accessibility rather than selectivity, and the earnings reflect that positioning. This program works best for students seeking an affordable business degree from a known state institution, but families expecting their graduate to quickly match the earning power of peers at Boston-area business schools will likely be disappointed by the gap.