Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Southern Indiana

University of Southern Indiana's business program sits in the bottom quarter of Indiana offerings, with first-year earnings of $40,892 falling nearly $8,400 short of the state median. Among Indiana's 41 business programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state programs deliver better starting salaries. The gap is particularly notable when you consider that top Indiana programs like Grace College and Ball State place graduates earning $20,000+ more annually.

The saving grace here is relatively manageable debt at $21,602, lower than both state and national medians. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, graduates can realistically pay down their loans even with below-average starting salaries. The program also shows solid earnings growth of 24% by year four, reaching $50,494—though this still trails the state median for business graduates.

For Indiana families, this is a case where the tuition savings may not offset the earnings gap. If your child can gain admission to Ball State, Purdue, or Indiana Wesleyan, those programs deliver substantially stronger financial outcomes. USI's business degree works best for students who need the accessibility of a 95% acceptance rate and can't relocate, but recognize you're trading lower debt for significantly lower earning potential compared to other in-state options.