Business Administration, Management and Operations at Faulkner University

Faulkner's business administration program launches graduates at just $36,990—about $9,000 below Alabama's state median and in the bottom 15% nationally. While rankings at the 40th percentile within Alabama, it's competing against 31 in-state alternatives where several schools deliver earnings $10,000-$20,000 higher right out of the gate. The debt burden of $35,465 compounds this concern, landing in the 95th percentile nationally for a business program—meaning you'll carry more debt than 95% of business majors elsewhere.

The picture improves somewhat as graduates gain experience, with earnings climbing 34% to nearly $50,000 by year four. However, even at that point, new graduates from Auburn or Alabama are already earning more. That near-dollar-for-dollar debt-to-earnings ratio means your child would owe almost as much as they'd earn in their first year, creating immediate financial pressure that higher-performing programs avoid.

If your child has in-state options like Auburn ($56,948 starting) or even Athens State ($49,436), those deliver substantially better returns with similar or lower debt loads. Faulkner may work if it offers specific advantages like location or faith-based education that matter to your family, but financially, it's asking students to accept below-average outcomes at above-average cost—a combination worth scrutinizing carefully before committing.