Business Administration, Management and Operations at Gallaudet University

The small sample size here requires caution, but the earnings gap is striking enough to warrant serious consideration. Gallaudet's business graduates start at $29,003—roughly half the DC median of $57,490 and well below even the national average of $45,703. In a city where most business programs launch graduates above $57,000, this program ranks in just the 10th percentile locally. Even University of the District of Columbia, the public option, produces outcomes 24% higher.

The $24,000 debt burden is actually slightly below average, keeping the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.83. Still, that first-year salary of $29,000 will make repayment challenging in one of the nation's most expensive cities. For context, Georgetown business graduates in the same city earn nearly triple these figures. Gallaudet serves a unique mission as a university for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and its 54% Pell grant population suggests families choosing affordability. But prospective students should understand they're likely accepting significantly lower earnings than peers at other DC institutions.

If Gallaudet is the right cultural and academic fit for your family, the manageable debt load offers some protection. However, parents should plan for the reality that career advancement may need to happen quickly to offset that $29,000 starting point, and location flexibility after graduation could be crucial given DC's high cost of living.