Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Nevada-Las Vegas

UNLV's business management program ranks dead last among Nevada's colleges for graduate earnings—10th percentile statewide—with first-year graduates earning $33,770 compared to the state median of $52,454. That's a $19,000 gap that should concern any family weighing in-state options. Even Great Basin College, a community college system, produces business grads earning nearly double what UNLV grads make initially. The debt load of $19,677 is reasonable in isolation, but when stacked against such weak starting salaries, it creates a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio that's worse than 87% of similar programs nationwide.

The story improves somewhat by year four, when earnings jump 41% to $47,689—suggesting graduates can gain traction with experience. But that still leaves them earning $5,000 below the state median and nearly matching the national average for a program that should command Nevada's casino, hospitality, and entertainment management job market. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates confirms this isn't a fluke or data quirk; this is the program's actual performance pattern.

For Nevada families, this represents a puzzling outcome: your state's flagship university in the entertainment capital delivers weaker business outcomes than regional competitors. Unless you have specific UNLV connections or opportunities that justify the initial earnings hit, comparable programs across Nevada offer materially better starting positions without leaving the state.