Business/Commerce at Westfield State University

Westfield State's business graduates start behind but make up ground quickly, jumping from $42k to $57k in four years—a 35% earnings gain that outpaces typical career progression. The question for Massachusetts families is whether starting in the bottom quartile among state programs justifies the $26k debt burden, even with that strong growth trajectory.

The numbers reveal a clear positioning: this program costs the same as Bay State University down the road but produces graduates earning $9k less annually, placing it 25th percentile statewide. You're essentially paying median debt for below-median Massachusetts outcomes. Compare that to Framingham State, where graduates earn nearly $9k more in their first year for similar debt, or UMass Dartmouth at $59k. The strong earnings growth is encouraging, but the four-year mark still leaves graduates trailing the state median by about $5k.

For families weighing in-state options, this comes down to affordability and realistic expectations. With an 81% admission rate and 33% of students on Pell grants, Westfield serves students who might not access more selective programs. If this is the accessible business degree your child can attain, the manageable debt and solid growth pattern work. But if they can gain admission to Framingham, UMass, or Western New England, those programs deliver meaningfully better financial outcomes for comparable or even lower investment.