Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Southern Maine

University of Southern Maine's business program hits right at Maine's median—60th percentile in both state and national rankings—while keeping debt notably lower than typical Maine business schools. At $25,042, students here borrow about $2,000 less than the state median, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 that beats the psychological threshold of borrowing less than one year's salary.

The trajectory looks solid: graduates see 10% earnings growth from $48,421 to $53,243 over four years, putting them comfortably above the national median for business programs by year four. Within Maine, this program sits in the middle tier—well behind Maine Maritime Academy's specialized maritime business grads ($99K) and slightly trailing University of New England, but ahead of several other options. The reliable sample size of 100+ graduates means these numbers reflect consistent outcomes, not statistical noise.

For Maine families prioritizing in-state tuition, this represents reasonable value: your student enters the workforce earning close to the national average while carrying less debt than most Maine business majors. The program won't catapult graduates into top earnings brackets, but the combination of moderate debt and steady income growth creates a financially sound foundation. If your child is weighing this against significantly more expensive private alternatives in Maine, the debt savings here could matter more than a modest earnings edge elsewhere.