Business/Commerce at University of Utah

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests a manageable financial start, but the caveat here matters: both the $47,506 first-year salary and $23,624 debt figure come from national medians for similar business programs, not Utah's own graduates. With only three schools in Utah offering this bachelor's degree in business—and none reporting actual outcomes—you're essentially betting that the University of Utah's program performs close to the national average.

That national benchmark itself isn't particularly strong. At $47,506, business graduates nationwide start near the middle of the pack, with the top quarter earning $54,742 or more. Utah's relatively low cost of living could make that salary stretch further than it would on the coasts, but you'd want to know whether local employers value a Utah degree enough to hit or exceed that national mark. The university's 87% admission rate and solid SAT average suggest a respectable institution, though not one that necessarily commands premium starting salaries.

The practical takeaway: this program likely offers decent value if your child stays in-state and keeps borrowing close to the estimated $23,624. But without actual earnings data from Utah graduates, you're relying on the assumption that this school's business program performs like the national median—not a bad bet, but not a guaranteed one either.