Finance and Financial Management Services at Columbus State University

Columbus State's finance program sits squarely in the middle of Georgia's options—literally at the 40th percentile statewide—but that ranking becomes concerning when you see the actual numbers. At $46,812 in first-year earnings, graduates trail not just UGA ($67,444) but also Georgia State, Kennesaw State, and even University of West Georgia. They're earning about $4,200 less than the Georgia median and nearly $7,000 below the national benchmark.

The debt load of $25,488 is manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 that keeps monthly payments reasonable. The 7% earnings growth to year four suggests steady career progression, reaching $49,844—though that still lags behind what competitors' graduates earn in their first year out of school. For a finance degree from Columbus State, you're looking at roughly $20,000 less annually than a UGA grad and $6,500 less than someone from Georgia State.

The critical caveat here is the small sample size (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers could swing significantly year to year. But given Columbus State's 99% admission rate and modest academic profile, the lower earnings trajectory aligns with the institution's broader positioning. If your child can get into Georgia State or Kennesaw State—both of which show substantially stronger outcomes—those would be safer bets for a finance career.