Best value Marketing and Business programs
Ranked by one number: median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. Lower is better. Nothing else is weighted, and no school can pay to appear here.
Data last updated
How this ranking is produced
- The only input is median debt ÷ median earnings, both from the College Scorecard. There is no reputation score, no survey, and no editorial judgement.
- Programs are ranked within credential level. A certificate with small debt would otherwise outrank every bachelor’s degree, which is not a comparison anyone is actually making.
- A program appears only if it reports both figures. Programs the government suppresses for small class sizes are absent, not penalised.
- A credential tier is shown only where at least five programs qualify, so a ranking never rests on two or three data points.
- Debt covers federal loans only. Private borrowing is invisible here, so a program’s real cost may be higher than its position suggests.
- Earnings count only students who completed. Programs with high dropout rates look better on this measure than they deserve to.
Undergraduate certificate
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 70 undergraduate certificate programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Phoenix-HawaiiHI · Private for-profit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · On campus | $7,125 | $68,591 | 10% |
| 2 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaAZ · Private for-profit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · HybridOffers: Business – Marketing (BS) · Communication (BS) · Business Fundamentals (AA)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Project ManagementOperations Management and SupervisionOrganizational LeadershipThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $7,125 | $68,591 | 10% |
| 3 | University of Phoenix-CaliforniaCA · Private for-profit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Operations Management and SupervisionProject ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $7,125 | $68,591 | 10% |
| 4 | University of Phoenix-NevadaNV · Private for-profit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · On campus | $7,125 | $68,591 | 10% |
| 5 | University of Phoenix-TexasTX · Private for-profit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Project ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $7,125 | $68,591 | 10% |
| 6 | Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeKY · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · Online or on campus | $7,246 | $68,388 | 11% |
| 7 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Public | Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts ManagementUndergraduate certificate · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Business Administration and Management, GeneralOrganizational LeadershipNon-Profit/Public/Organizational ManagementScience/Technology ManagementRisk ManagementTransportation/Mobility ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,250 | $75,964 | 12% |
| 8 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Public | Organizational LeadershipUndergraduate certificate · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Research and Development ManagementScience/Technology ManagementPurchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts ManagementLogistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementNon-Profit/Public/Organizational ManagementBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,250 | $75,964 | 12% |
| 9 | American Public University SystemWV · Private for-profit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementOrganizational LeadershipThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $7,880 | $63,677 | 12% |
| 10 | Sinclair Community CollegeOH · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralUndergraduate certificate · Online or on campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Retail ManagementLogistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $4,910 | $33,992 | 14% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Associate degree
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 325 associate degree programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | De Anza CollegeCA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · On campus | $6,500 | $75,297 | 9% |
| 2 | Georgia Northwestern Technical CollegeGA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementOperations Management and SupervisionThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $4,448 | $49,385 | 9% |
| 3 | Del Mar CollegeTX · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Fully onlineWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Office Management and SupervisionThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $4,700 | $49,598 | 9% |
| 4 | Lehigh Carbon Community CollegePA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Hybrid | $5,500 | $55,673 | 10% |
| 5 | CUNY LaGuardia Community CollegeNY · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Fully online | $5,500 | $50,803 | 11% |
| 6 | Middlesex Community CollegeMA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Fully online | $6,500 | $59,103 | 11% |
| 7 | Massachusetts Bay Community CollegeMA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Hybrid | $6,480 | $58,870 | 11% |
| 8 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeMA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Hybrid | $7,100 | $59,381 | 12% |
| 9 | Utah Valley UniversityUT · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Online or on campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Organizational LeadershipBusiness Administration, Management and Operations, OtherOperations Management and SupervisionScience/Technology ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,500 | $77,740 | 12% |
| 10 | Ulster County Community CollegeNY · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralAssociate degree · Fully online | $6,532 | $53,304 | 12% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Bachelor’s degree
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 1,721 bachelor’s degree programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-BerkeleyCA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campus | $11,300 | $144,599 | 8% |
| 2 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Private nonprofit | Marketing/Marketing Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campus | $11,000 | $112,596 | 10% |
| 3 | Brigham Young UniversityUT · Private nonprofit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $11,000 | $105,544 | 10% |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel HillNC · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Organizational LeadershipThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $14,239 | $135,874 | 10% |
| 5 | Los Angeles Pacific UniversityCA · Private nonprofit | Organizational LeadershipBachelor’s degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Business Administration and Management, GeneralLogistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementBusiness Administration, Management and Operations, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $9,375 | $82,437 | 11% |
| 6 | University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPR · Public | Marketing/Marketing Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campus | $5,500 | $46,038 | 12% |
| 7 | Bismarck State CollegeND · Public | Operations Management and SupervisionBachelor’s degree · Hybrid | $15,250 | $122,948 | 12% |
| 8 | Georgetown UniversityDC · Private nonprofit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Project ManagementLogistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementBusiness Administration, Management and Operations, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $14,975 | $117,733 | 13% |
| 9 | Weber State UniversityUT · Public | Marketing/Marketing Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campus | $10,083 | $77,828 | 13% |
| 10 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborMI · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralBachelor’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Business Administration, Management and Operations, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $19,000 | $144,654 | 13% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
Master’s degree
The 10 lowest debt-to-earnings ratios of 779 master’s degree programs reporting both figures.
| # | Institution | Fieldand delivery | at completion | 4 yrs after | Median federal loan debt at completion, divided by median earnings four years later. It answers a single question: how much of one year’s income do you owe on the day you finish?Below 50% is generally considered manageable. Above 100% means graduates owe more than they earn in a year, and repayment on a standard ten-year plan starts to consume a serious share of income.Debt covers federal loans only, so real ratios are often worse. Both figures are medians — half of graduates fall on the wrong side of each. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Governors UniversityUT · Private nonprofit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · HybridOffers: Computer Science (BS) · Software Engineering (BS) · Information Technology (BS) · User Experience Design (BS) · Front-End Web Development (Certificate)What this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Organizational LeadershipThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $13,165 | $98,950 | 13% |
| 2 | Saint Cloud State UniversityMN · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · Hybrid | $20,500 | $141,749 | 14% |
| 3 | University of PennsylvaniaPA · Private nonprofit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · Online or on campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Non-Profit/Public/Organizational ManagementBusiness Administration, Management and Operations, OtherThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $41,420 | $272,321 | 15% |
| 4 | Idaho State UniversityID · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · Hybrid | $15,202 | $99,523 | 15% |
| 5 | University of North DakotaND · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Operations Management and SupervisionNon-Profit/Public/Organizational ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $20,220 | $126,170 | 16% |
| 6 | Texas A & M University-Corpus ChristiTX · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · Fully online | $16,327 | $99,331 | 16% |
| 7 | James Madison UniversityVA · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · Fully online | $24,750 | $150,316 | 16% |
| 8 | University of Alabama in HuntsvilleAL · Public | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · HybridWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementPurchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $17,000 | $102,853 | 17% |
| 9 | University of DubuqueIA · Private nonprofit | Business Administration, Management and Operations, OtherMaster’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Business Administration and Management, GeneralThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $13,362 | $80,776 | 17% |
| 10 | University of RichmondVA · Private nonprofit | Business Administration and Management, GeneralMaster’s degree · On campusWhat this figure actually coversThe federal government reports debt and earnings for a whole program family rather than one degree. At this institution that family also includes:Non-Profit/Public/Organizational ManagementThe figures on this row describe all of them together. We cannot separate them, and we do not estimate. | $22,000 | $131,832 | 17% |
Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study (retrieved September 2026)
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The other end of the same list
Ranking by value means some programs come last. We publish those too — the cost page names the marketing and business programs where graduates owe more than they earn in a year.