Marketing at Villanova University

At $69,633 in first-year earnings, Villanova's marketing graduates earn 56% more than the national median and 50% more than the typical Pennsylvania marketing grad. This performance places the program in the 95th percentile both nationally and within Pennsylvania—just behind Penn but ahead of comparable selective schools like Bucknell and Lehigh. The $26,962 in typical debt sits near the middle of the pack, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39 that's manageable by any standard.

The trajectory looks sustainable rather than front-loaded. Graduates see solid 14% earnings growth through year four, reaching nearly $80,000—well above the stagnant patterns common in many marketing programs. This suggests Villanova's combination of brand recognition and Philadelphia-area business connections delivers sustained career value, not just impressive placement numbers.

For parents weighing the private school premium, this is what strong ROI looks like in a business major. Your child would be borrowing a reasonable amount to access a program that demonstrably outperforms 95% of its peers. The moderate sample size means individual results will vary, but the fundamentals—low debt, high earnings, upward trajectory—align in ways that justify the investment for students serious about marketing careers.