Business Administration, Management and Operations at Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach

Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach graduates with business degrees earn $36,375 in their first year—about $9,000 below Virginia's median for business programs and roughly $20,000 less than what graduates earn from public universities like Virginia Tech or James Madison. This puts the program in the bottom quarter of Virginia business programs and the bottom 13% nationally, despite serving a predominantly Pell-eligible student population that might benefit most from stronger earnings.

The debt burden compounds the problem. At $45,243, graduates carry nearly 75% more debt than the state median ($27,000) and almost double the national median ($26,000). This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.24—meaning graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary. While earnings do grow 16% by year four to $42,204, that still trails Virginia's median by over $3,000 and leaves graduates managing substantial monthly payments on a modest income.

For families considering this program, the math is challenging. Your child would likely earn more with significantly less debt at a Virginia community college with transfer to a state university, or even at many in-state four-year schools. The 62% Pell grant rate suggests Bryant & Stratton serves students who may have fewer alternatives, but that doesn't change the fundamental economics: this is an expensive path to below-average business career outcomes in Virginia's job market.