Business Administration, Management and Operations at Washington University of Science and Technology

A highly selective school with an 11% admission rate and zero Pell grant recipients should theoretically position its business graduates for stronger outcomes than what peer programs suggest here. Based on comparable business programs in Virginia, first-year earnings around $45,500 against estimated debt of nearly $47,000 creates a nearly 1:1 ratio—workable but far from what you'd expect from an institution this exclusive. Top-tier Virginia business programs routinely place graduates into $60,000-$75,000+ starting positions, suggesting Washington University of Science and Technology either serves a different market or hasn't yet built the employer networks that translate selectivity into earnings power.

The debt figure is particularly concerning since it's estimated from just seven similar programs in Virginia and sits well above both the state median ($27,000) and national median ($26,000) for business degrees. Even if actual outcomes prove somewhat better, carrying $47,000 in debt from a bachelor's program where similar graduates earn $45,000 creates immediate financial pressure—especially compared to Virginia public universities where business majors typically carry half the debt while earning substantially more within their first year.

Given the lack of actual outcome data and the gap between this school's selectivity profile and what peer earnings suggest, you need direct answers from admissions about where recent business graduates actually landed and what they actually earned. The 11% admission rate implies this school positions itself as elite, but the estimated numbers don't support paying a premium over Virginia's established business programs.