Finance and Financial Management Services at University of Memphis

University of Memphis finance graduates start with below-average earnings but show impressive trajectory. At $44,395 in the first year, graduates earn roughly $9,000 less than the national median for finance programs—landing in just the 11th percentile nationally. However, earnings jump 36% to over $60,000 by year four, matching the national 75th percentile. Within Tennessee, this program sits right at the median (40th percentile), trailing UT-Knoxville's stronger $53,826 but outperforming several state competitors.

The real advantage here is debt management. At $27,000, graduates carry relatively low debt—far below both the Tennessee median ($20,500 gap notwithstanding) and the national average. The 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than eight months of their starting salary, which is manageable even with that slower first-year start. For a school serving a predominantly working-class student body (40% Pell-eligible), keeping debt modest matters more than maximizing starting salaries.

This program works if your child can weather a modest first job and capitalize on that strong earnings growth curve. The trajectory suggests graduates move into better positions relatively quickly, but families banking on immediate high earnings to service larger debt loads should look elsewhere—probably UT-Knoxville if they can gain admission and handle potentially higher costs.