Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations graduates earn a median $61,027 four years after finishing — $12,667/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 5.3 years. Federal data pools 279 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 3,793 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations ranks #103 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 50% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston College | MA | $132,903 |
| 2 | Brown University | RI | $125,955 |
| 3 | University of Arizona | AZ | $99,722 |
| 4 | Brigham Young University | UT | $97,085 |
| 5 | Quinnipiac University | CT | $91,828 |
| 6 | Syracuse University | NY | $87,851 |
| 7 | Baylor University | TX | $86,363 |
| 8 | Rollins College | FL | $85,574 |
| 9 | Elon University | NC | $80,850 |
| 10 | University of St Thomas | MN | $79,390 |
| 11 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | PA | $78,554 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $78,476 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.