Business Administration, Management and Operations at Utica University

Utica University's business program delivers earnings that sit right at the state median but trail significantly behind the national average—a meaningful gap when you're paying similar debt loads either way. Starting at $38,356 and rising to $42,056 after four years, graduates earn roughly $3,600 less than the typical New York business major and over $7,000 below the national figure. The debt burden of $26,149 is entirely typical, which means the real challenge is the earnings side of the equation.

The 10% earnings growth over four years is modest, though it at least points in the right direction. What's harder to justify is the comparison to other New York options: the state's top business programs deliver first-year earnings 70-200% higher than Utica's. Even accounting for selectivity differences (Utica accepts 87% of applicants), that's a substantial gap. The school serves a meaningful population of Pell-eligible students, which adds social value, but families should recognize they're paying middle-of-the-pack prices for below-average earning outcomes.

If your child is committed to staying in central New York or has strong institutional fit reasons for choosing Utica, this program won't sink them—the debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.7 is manageable. But purely as a financial investment, this business degree underperforms both state and national alternatives at similar price points.