Business Administration, Management and Operations at Lackawanna College

At $34,308 a year after graduation, Lackawanna's business administration program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs produce higher-earning graduates. Even within Pennsylvania, where business graduates typically earn $47,040, this program lands at the 25th percentile. That's a $12,700 gap compared to the state median and puts graduates more than $30,000 behind what Penn State's regional campuses produce.

The debt load itself isn't excessive at $29,496, translating to roughly $330 in monthly payments. But paired with starting salaries in the mid-30s, these graduates face a tighter financial picture than most business majors. Compare this to state flagships like Pitt ($62,675) or even regional state schools that routinely produce $50,000+ earners, and the value gap becomes stark. With 58% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on this degree to deliver economic mobility—a tall order at these earning levels.

If your child is considering business school and can access Pennsylvania's state system or even community college transfer pathways to four-year programs, those routes typically deliver stronger returns. Lackawanna may work for students who need to stay local in Scranton, but the earnings data suggests this particular program struggles to compete with alternatives across the state.