Business Administration, Management and Operations at Western Connecticut State University

Connecticut's business programs typically produce first-year earnings around $54,200, which is where peer data suggests Western Connecticut State graduates land. That's a meaningful premium over the national median of $45,700, reflecting the state's stronger job market for business graduates. The estimated debt of $21,400 creates a manageable 0.39 ratio—you'd owe roughly 40 cents for every dollar earned in year one.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates here. The school's actual graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish outcomes. Looking at Connecticut programs with reported data, the range is substantial: Charter Oak State and Post University graduates earn over $60,000, while Western's estimated figure sits closer to the state median. Whether Western Connecticut's program actually delivers above or below that $54,200 benchmark is an open question.

For families considering this option, the relatively modest debt load is reassuring—it's below both state and national medians for business degrees. But given the school's 81% admission rate and middle-tier test scores, you're betting on outcomes without program-specific evidence. If your student has admission offers from Connecticut schools with published data showing stronger earnings, those provide clearer signals about return on investment.