Business Administration, Management and Operations at Delgado Community College

Delgado's business associate program creates a concerning financial burden relative to what graduates typically earn. Students leave with $34,932 in debt—more than twice the national median for this degree—while earning just $27,509 in their first year. That 1.27 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face repayments exceeding what federal guidelines consider manageable, a particularly tough spot for a community college serving a majority low-income student population.

The state context reveals an interesting split: while Delgado performs above Louisiana's median for graduate earnings (60th percentile), it substantially underperforms the national picture (20th percentile). Graduates do see meaningful income growth, reaching $34,254 by year four, but that still trails the $33,977 national median for first-year earnings. The debt burden here ranks among the highest 5% nationally—unusual and worrisome for an associate degree program where students typically choose the community college path specifically to minimize borrowing.

For families evaluating this program, the math is straightforward but difficult: you're taking on four-year-degree-level debt for earnings that remain below what business associate graduates earn nationally even after several years in the workforce. Unless your student can dramatically reduce borrowing through scholarships or working while enrolled, other Louisiana options or workforce entry followed by employer-sponsored education would likely prove more financially sound.