Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 80 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$110,747 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
17.2 yrsModeled economic break-even
−42%Modeled 10-year ROI
$60,437Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$60,437Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,625Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,250Median federal debt
47thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
80Reporting programs
73With year-4 earnings
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
- $55,488
- Federal debt
- $18,788
- Reporting programs
- 14
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $38,419
- Federal debt
- $16,918
- Reporting programs
- 8
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,437
- Federal debt
- $24,250
- Reporting programs
- 80
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,411
- Federal debt
- $28,508
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $107,998
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $30,039
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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$50,236National median$60,43775th percentile$69,534
73 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Boston College$132,9032Brown University$125,9553University of Arizona$99,7224Brigham Young University$97,0855Quinnipiac University$91,8286Syracuse University$87,8517Baylor University$86,3638Rollins College$85,5749Elon University$80,85010University of St Thomas$79,390Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 4 crosswalk linksBusiness Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 2 crosswalk linksChief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 · 2 crosswalk linksGeneral and Operations ManagersSOC 11-1021 · 2 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk linksPersonal Service Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9179 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $132,903 | $19,000 | +153% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $125,955 | $18,000 | +188% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $99,722 | $23,962 | +122% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $97,085 | Not available | +115% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Quinnipiac UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hamden, CT | $91,828 | $27,000 | +37% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $87,851 | $26,350 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $86,363 | $19,375 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Rollins CollegeBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $85,574 | Not available | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $80,850 | Not available | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of St ThomasBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $79,390 | $21,500 | +16% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $78,554 | Not available | +12% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $78,476 | $26,000 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $77,581 | $26,000 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $77,318 | $25,813 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $73,489 | Not available | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $71,613 | Not available | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $70,895 | $25,000 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Lamar UniversityBachelor's Degree | Beaumont, TX | $70,799 | $25,406 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Loyola Marymount UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $69,534 | $20,500 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $69,210 | $19,365 | -0% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Suffolk UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $68,752 | $27,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | North Central CollegeBachelor's Degree | Naperville, IL | $68,750 | Not available | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $68,395 | $21,125 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Shippensburg, PA | $67,926 | $24,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterBachelor's Degree | Whitewater, WI | $67,300 | $18,785 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Miami University-HamiltonBachelor's Degree | Hamilton, OH | $67,193 | $23,350 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Miami University-MiddletownBachelor's Degree | Middletown, OH | $67,193 | $23,350 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $67,193 | $23,350 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $65,830 | $33,678 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Dallas Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dallas, TX | $65,140 | Not available | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $64,678 | $22,500 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $64,478 | $14,154 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | The University of TampaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $64,034 | $27,000 | -41% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Utah Valley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Orem, UT | $62,739 | Not available | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Wichita State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wichita, KS | $61,960 | Not available | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $61,642 | $25,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $60,437 | $24,250 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $59,809 | $21,287 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $58,824 | $17,100 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $58,787 | Not available | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Buena Vista UniversityBachelor's Degree | Storm Lake, IA | $58,540 | $27,000 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | East Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Greenville, NC | $58,246 | $28,227 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $57,725 | $26,031 | -51% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $57,689 | $8,500 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $56,895 | Not available | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $56,553 | $27,000 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $56,430 | $19,998 | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $53,829 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of North DakotaBachelor's Degree | Grand Forks, ND | $53,454 | $26,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Green River CollegeBachelor's Degree | Auburn, WA | $53,220 | Not available | -65% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Sam Houston State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Huntsville, TX | $52,901 | $26,000 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $52,783 | $27,000 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Eastern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ypsilanti, MI | $51,368 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | University of Central ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Conway, AR | $51,322 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Northern Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Marquette, MI | $50,236 | Not available | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Fashion Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $49,627 | $19,500 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of North Carolina at GreensboroBachelor's Degree | Greensboro, NC | $47,717 | Not available | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | York College of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | York, PA | $47,046 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Johnson & Wales University-ProvidenceBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $47,042 | $25,500 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Johnson & Wales University-CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $47,042 | $25,500 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Johnson & Wales University-OnlineBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $47,042 | $25,500 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of Hawaii at ManoaBachelor's Degree | Honolulu, HI | $46,966 | Not available | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Belmont UniversityBachelor's Degree | Nashville, TN | $46,834 | Not available | -94% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $46,192 | Not available | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Jackson State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jackson, MS | $45,707 | $36,890 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | $45,464 | Not available | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | The University of Arizona Global CampusBachelor's Degree | Chandler, AZ | $43,140 | $46,438 | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $38,200 | Not available | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey CampusBachelor's Degree | San Juan, PR | $34,139 | $17,560 | -152% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonBachelor's Degree | Bayamon, PR | $29,867 | $7,375 | -170% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboBachelor's Degree | Arecibo, PR | $28,461 | Not available | -176% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanBachelor's Degree | San German, PR | $28,121 | Not available | -178% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaBachelor's Degree | Aguadilla, PR | $21,272 | Not available | -210% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | Not available | $22,812 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $41,431 |
| 75 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | Not available | $25,666 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $15,327 |
| 76 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | Not available | $21,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,589 |
| 77 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | Not available | $21,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $17,613 |
| 78 | Clarkson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Potsdam, NY | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $30,305 |
| 79 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | Not available | $11,100 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,276 |
| 80 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | Not available | $25,292 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $36,660 |
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.