Business Administration, Management and Operations at Emory & Henry University

Emory & Henry's business program starts graduates at $35,349—about $10,000 below both the Virginia and national medians for business majors. While earnings climb 34% to $47,179 by year four, that initial gap is substantial. Among Virginia's 43 business programs, this lands in just the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of comparable in-state programs launch graduates at higher starting salaries. The state's flagship programs start students $20,000-40,000 higher right out of the gate.

The debt load of $26,750 sits right at national norms, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76—manageable but not compelling given the below-average earnings. For context, William & Mary graduates earn more than twice as much in year one while carrying similar debt. The 96% admission rate and modest test scores suggest this serves students who may have fewer options, and 41% receive Pell grants, indicating many come from lower-income backgrounds.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, making these figures potentially unreliable. If your child is seriously considering this program, request placement data directly from the school and ask specifically about outcomes for recent classes. For a business degree in Virginia, you'd want strong evidence that outcomes have improved significantly from what these limited numbers suggest.