Business/Commerce at University of South Florida

USF's business program delivers something increasingly rare: graduates leave with significantly less debt than the state or national average while earning respectable salaries. At $19,572, student debt here runs about $6,400 below what business majors typically carry at Florida schools. That 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face roughly half a year's salary in debt—a manageable starting point that gives them financial flexibility early in their careers.

The earnings picture is solid if not spectacular. Starting at $45,357 and growing to $50,844 by year four, graduates earn slightly below Florida's median for business programs but see steady 12% growth. They're roughly in the middle of the pack statewide—trailing higher-priced options like Rollins or for-profit schools, but comparable to peer state universities like UCF. The robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results.

For families weighing cost against opportunity, USF offers a straightforward value calculation: your graduate will start earning immediately after college without being weighed down by heavy debt payments. They won't command top-tier business salaries right away, but the combination of low debt and steady earnings growth creates a stable foundation. If your child is staying in Florida and wants a business degree without financial stress, this program does exactly what a solid state university should.