Business/Commerce, General: is this doctoral degree worth it?
National picture across 1 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$107,902 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$107,902Median year-4 earnings
$17,956Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Business/Commerce, General
How much do Business/Commerce, General doctoral degree graduates earn?
The national median is $107,902 four years after completion across reportable doctoral degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Business/Commerce, General?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $107,902 to $107,902 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Business/Commerce, General?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 12 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$107,902Median reported earnings · year 4
$108,065Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
56thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
1With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,651
- Federal debt
- $14,094
- Reporting programs
- 26
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,628
- Federal debt
- $17,500
- Reporting programs
- 223
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,292
- Federal debt
- $26,290
- Reporting programs
- 293
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $134,050
- Federal debt
- $15,725
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $106,812
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 77
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $107,902
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $92,953
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $113,127
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,817
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$107,902National median$107,90275th percentile$107,902
1 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
1 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Capella University$107,902Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Chief Executives$213,990 median wage204,350 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-1011+3.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 19.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$75,700–$507,730 10th–90th percentileSales Managers$148,270 median wage637,080 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-2022+4.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 47.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$73,170–$290,540 10th–90th percentileManagers, All Other$141,900 median wage622,190 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9199+4.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 100.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$74,300–$238,270 10th–90th percentileIndustrial Production Managers$126,060 median wage246,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3051+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 17k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$78,000–$205,520 10th–90th percentileConstruction Managers$114,990 median wage380,360 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9021+9.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 49.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$69,690–$189,440 10th–90th percentileAdministrative Services Managers$114,130 median wage263,960 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3012+5.2% projected employment, 2025–35 · 22k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$67,100–$207,720 10th–90th percentileTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,230 median wage221,180 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3071+6.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 18.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent$65,120–$194,900 10th–90th percentileFacilities Managers$106,660 median wage156,180 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-3013+4.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$64,480–$176,120 10th–90th percentileGeneral and Operations Managers$105,770 median wage3,503,020 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-1021+5.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 285k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$50,090–$253,390 10th–90th percentileProject Management Specialists$102,320 median wage1,066,670 U.S. jobs · SOC 13-1082+6.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 76.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$61,580–$167,970 10th–90th percentileManagement Analysts$101,860 median wage898,280 U.S. jobs · SOC 13-1111+10.1% projected employment, 2025–35 · 94.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$60,640–$171,640 10th–90th percentileBusiness Teachers, Postsecondary$99,080 median wage82,150 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1011+5.9% projected employment, 2025–35 · 7.6k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$47,180–$209,470 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capella UniversityDoctoral Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $107,902 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $17,956 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.