Business Administration, Management and Operations at Bennett College

A $27,000 debt load for a degree that similar North Carolina business programs suggest yields around $43,000 in first-year earnings—that's a manageable 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio, right at the state median for this major. But these figures come from comparable programs across NC, not Bennett's actual graduate outcomes, and the reality is that business programs in the state vary dramatically. While the estimated earnings align with NC's median, top programs like UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State produce graduates earning 30-100% more in their first year.

Bennett serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (75%), and the relatively modest debt estimate reflects what similar institutions typically see. The question is whether these peer-program outcomes translate to Bennett's specific context and career support infrastructure. Business administration is the most commonly offered bachelor's degree nationally (over 1,600 programs), which means both abundant opportunities and intense competition for entry-level positions.

The estimated numbers suggest reasonable affordability if they hold true—less than a year's salary in debt is workable. But with such wide variation among NC business programs and no actual outcome data available, your child would be making this investment without concrete evidence of Bennett's track record in this field. Request placement rates and employer relationships directly from the school before committing.