Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Saint Katherine

A business degree from University of Saint Katherine produces earnings that trail not just elite California programs, but nearly every business school in the state. First-year graduates earn $34,407—roughly $15,000 below California's median for business programs and $11,000 below the national average. This places USK in the bottom 10% statewide and bottom 5% nationally among business programs.

The concerning part isn't just the low starting point—it's what you're getting for your investment. While the $21,000 debt load matches California's median for business degrees, you're pairing that with earnings that look more like an associate degree outcome than a bachelor's. For context, Cal Poly SLO business grads earn twice as much in their first year, and even mid-tier California State University campuses typically produce significantly better outcomes. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 appears manageable on paper, but that's only because both numbers are low.

The very small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift dramatically year to year, but that uncertainty cuts both ways—it doesn't guarantee improvement. For a California family, this represents a tough value equation: paying for a four-year private university experience while achieving earnings closer to what many community college transfer programs deliver. Unless there are compelling personal or religious reasons to attend USK specifically, California offers dozens of business programs with stronger employment outcomes at similar or lower cost.