Business/Managerial Economics at Coastal Carolina University

The drop from an estimated $53,000 in year one to $50,150 by year four is unusual and worth questioning. Most business degrees show earnings growth over time, but this program appears to move backward. Since the first-year figure is estimated from national programs rather than actual Coastal Carolina outcomes, that reversal might reflect how Business/Managerial Economics programs nationally differ from what this specific school delivers—or it could signal a genuine ceiling problem.

The estimated debt of $21,125 looks manageable against that first-year estimate, yielding a 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio. But peer programs in South Carolina typically carry higher debt ($25,000 median) while producing stronger year-four results—USC-Columbia graduates earn $62,692. That $12,500 earnings gap between Coastal Carolina's reported outcomes and the state's top program matters considerably when you're comparing similar debt loads and similar career paths.

With 80% of applicants admitted and below-average test scores, Coastal Carolina serves a different student population than USC. The question is whether this program offers adequate career momentum for the investment. Based on comparable programs and the school's reported four-year earnings, graduates appear to hit their peak quickly and plateau early. If your child is considering business, pressing the school for clearer outcome data—or looking at their accounting or finance programs if those have stronger track records—would be prudent.