Business Administration, Management and Operations at William Jewell College

William Jewell's business program lands squarely in the middle—and that's both a strength and a limitation. Graduates earn $44,064 initially, rising to nearly $55,000 by year four. That growth trajectory beats the national median slightly and performs even better against Missouri competitors, placing in the 60th percentile statewide. For context, this means you're outearning business grads from most Missouri schools, though nowhere near the premium programs like Ranken Technical ($73,200) that focus on specialized technical business skills.

The debt picture is straightforward: $26,000 matches both national and state medians exactly, creating a 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio that most families can manage. With monthly payments around $290, graduates should be able to handle this burden while building their careers. The 24% earnings growth over four years suggests the degree opens doors to advancement, even if the starting salary feels modest.

The real question is opportunity cost. At a selective school (34% admission rate) with tuition that supports small class sizes, you're paying for a liberal arts experience alongside the business credential. If your child thrives in that environment and plans to leverage Jewell's network in the Kansas City region, this investment makes sense. But families purely focused on ROI might find better value at schools like Truman State, which delivers comparable outcomes at lower cost for in-state students.