Compare 211 Business/Commerce, General. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $64,885. Top programs: $137,804+.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, Business/Commerce, General. tells a different story. Across 211 programs, earnings range from $31,305 to $137,804—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation. The spread exceeds $106,000, which means where you study business matters far more than how well-known the school is.
New York University's Business/Commerce, General. program leads with graduates earning $137,804—more than double the field average of $64,885. The more instructive data point: Indiana University-Bloomington, a public school admitting 78% of applicants, produces graduates earning $105,583, outperforming several better-known private institutions. Program quality, not prestige, is driving that gap.
For families weighing debt, University of Minnesota-Crookston stands out. Its graduates carry just $31,592 in combined student and parent debt, producing a 5.7% family payment burden—an 'Excellent' GPS affordability rating meaning loan payments consume a minimal share of discretionary income. NYU's student-only burden is even lower at 2.4%, also 'Excellent,' but family debt there runs to $85,295.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York UniversityPrivate | $137,804 | 395 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | Good |
| #2 | Baylor UniversityPrivate | $124,434 | 60 | $23,000 | Excellent | $50,786 | Good |
| #3 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $118,167 | 154 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Good |
| #4 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $113,620 | 957 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Good |
| #5 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $111,444 | 37 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Good |
| #6 | Bentley UniversityPrivate | $109,922 | 152 | $25,023 | Excellent | $43,757 | Good |
| #7 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | $108,405 | 127 | $25,648 | Excellent | $35,451 | Good |
| #8 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $107,079 | 25 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Good |
| #9 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $107,023 | 13 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Good |
| #10 | $105,583 | 2,132 | $19,509 | Excellent | $32,850 | Good | |
| #11 | $104,205 | 80 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Good | |
| #12 | $101,828 | 19 | $20,500 | Excellent | $11,092 | Excellent | |
| #13 | $101,580 | 54 | $25,028 | Excellent | $65,597 | Manageable | |
| #14 | Skidmore CollegePrivate | $93,229 | 87 | $19,500 | Excellent | $60,000 | Manageable |
| #15 | University Of GeorgiaPublic | $91,970 | 55 | $18,500 | Excellent | $20,855 | Good |
| #16 | Pace UniversityPrivate | $89,450 | 39 | $23,250 | Excellent | $46,275 | Manageable |
| #17 | Oklahoma Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $86,511 | 15 | $24,813 | Excellent | $43,356 | Manageable |
| #18 | Texas Tech UniversityPublic | $86,278 | 18 | $21,500 | Excellent | $23,443 | Good |
| #19 | Suny Maritime CollegePublic | $85,603 | 69 | $23,250 | Excellent | $38,700 | Manageable |
| #20 | University Of RedlandsPrivate | $85,066 | 126 | $26,000 | Excellent | $28,208 | Manageable |
| #21 | Saint Anselm CollegePrivate | $84,734 | 53 | $27,000 | Excellent | $59,736 | Challenging |
| #22 | $84,534 | 627 | $20,500 | Excellent | $32,529 | Manageable | |
| #23 | Seattle Pacific UniversityPrivate | $84,493 | 62 | $24,000 | Excellent | $37,687 | Manageable |
| #24 | Franklin CollegePrivate | $84,491 | 9 | $27,000 | Excellent | $40,380 | Manageable |
| #25 | Gonzaga UniversityPrivate | $84,459 | 260 | $24,454 | Excellent | $37,652 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
