Business Administration, Management and Operations at Herzing University-Birmingham

Herzing University-Birmingham's business program punches above its weight in Alabama, placing graduates in the 80th percentile for earnings statewide—well ahead of programs at Tuskegee and Alabama's flagship university. First-year earnings of $52,469 exceed both the state median ($40,689) and national median ($45,703) by comfortable margins. For a school with open admission and serving primarily lower-income students (64% Pell recipients), these outcomes are notably strong.

The complication is debt. At $46,792, graduates carry roughly $17,000 more than the state median and nearly double the national median for business programs. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.89 remains manageable—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with less than one year's salary—this is substantially higher debt than what students take on at Auburn or Alabama. The earnings trajectory shows modest but steady growth to $55,767 by year four, which helps with debt service but doesn't dramatically change the picture.

For families prioritizing accessibility and job outcomes over minimizing debt, this program delivers. The earnings advantage over most Alabama business programs is real and consistent. However, if your child can gain admission to Auburn or Alabama's programs, they'll achieve similar earnings with significantly less debt burden. The value proposition here depends heavily on your alternatives.