Business Administration, Management and Operations at Allen University

The small sample size requires caution here, but the numbers tell a troubling story that's hard to ignore. Graduates from this program earn less than half the national median for business degrees ($23,572 vs. $45,703), while carrying substantially more debt ($41,000 vs. $26,000 nationally). Within South Carolina, where these graduates will likely seek jobs, the gap is equally stark—the state median for business programs is $41,953, nearly double what Allen grads report earning their first year out.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.74 means graduates owe nearly two years' salary—a burden that will constrain financial decisions for years. Compare this to top South Carolina business programs like Charleston Southern ($64,920 median earnings) or even the state median, and the opportunity cost becomes clear. While Allen serves a predominantly low-income student population (80% receive Pell grants), taking on $41,000 in debt for earnings this far below market rates creates a difficult financial starting point.

If your child is set on Allen for community or personal reasons, these numbers suggest exploring whether other majors at the institution might offer better outcomes. Given the small sample, one or two years of data could skew dramatically, but until evidence suggests otherwise, this particular program presents significant financial risk relative to available alternatives in South Carolina.