Business Administration, Management and Operations at Albany State University

Albany State's business management program serves a predominantly lower-income student body (65% Pell recipients) but struggles to deliver competitive outcomes. Graduates earn $35,784 initially—about $8,600 below Georgia's median for business programs and nearly $10,000 below the national average. While the program ranks in the 25th percentile statewide, that still means three-quarters of Georgia business programs produce better earnings. The $31,000 debt load, though below the national median, represents a significant burden when paired with these earnings.

The modest 8% earnings growth to $38,570 after four years offers little relief. Even at that point, graduates remain well behind their Georgia peers ($44,392 median) and far from top state programs like UGA ($56,630) or Georgia Tech ($73,557). The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 means nearly a full year's salary goes toward educational debt—manageable but tight for someone earning under $36,000.

For families considering this program, understand what you're getting: access to a business degree at a lower price point than many alternatives, but with earnings that will likely lag peers from other Georgia schools. If your student can gain admission to a higher-performing public option like Georgia State or UGA, the earnings premium would justify the effort. Albany State may work for students with limited alternatives, but it's not positioning graduates for strong financial outcomes in business fields.