Finance and Financial Management Services at University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

UMass Dartmouth's finance program lands squarely in the middle nationally but trails most Massachusetts competitors—ranking in just the 40th percentile statewide despite charging similar debt levels. At $54,166 starting out, graduates earn roughly $2,000 less than the typical Massachusetts finance major and about $15,000 less than peers at UMass Amherst. The gap widens when you look at Boston College ($82,495) or Bentley ($72,309), though those schools serve different markets. The positive news: debt is remarkably low at $26,674, translating to a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats 88% of finance programs nationwide.

The practical trade-off here is clear—your child gets an affordable finance degree from a highly accessible state school (92% admission rate) but sacrifices the earning potential and network effects of more competitive Massachusetts business programs. Four years out, earnings grow to $61,374, a decent 13% bump but still below what many Bay State finance grads achieve right out of the gate. For families prioritizing low debt and reasonable certainty of admission, this works. For those who can access UMass Amherst or afford private options like Bentley, the $10,000+ annual earnings difference will likely offset any additional cost within a few years of graduation.