Business Administration, Management and Operations at Vincennes University

Vincennes University's Business Administration associate's degree starts rough but shows promise. Graduates earn just $25,497 in their first year—placing this program in the bottom 10% among Indiana business programs and well below the state median of $43,104. That's a significant gap: even Ivy Tech, another community college in Indiana, produces graduates earning $39,005 initially.

The encouraging news is the trajectory. Earnings jump 35% by year four to $34,427, suggesting graduates either develop valuable skills over time or use this degree as a stepping stone to better positions. Still, even with that growth, they're only reaching what their peers at other Indiana schools earn right out of the gate. The debt load of $15,306 isn't outrageous—it matches the state median—but when paired with those weak initial earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 0.60, meaning graduates owe about seven months of their first-year salary.

For an anxious parent, here's the reality: this program costs more time than money. The degree itself is affordable enough, but those first few years of below-market earnings represent a real financial sacrifice. If your child is set on Vincennes for other reasons (location, specific supports, guaranteed transfer agreements), understand they'll likely start behind their peers financially. Otherwise, Ivy Tech offers a similar credential with stronger immediate returns.