Business Administration, Management and Operations at Le Moyne-Owen College

A $26,560 debt load against estimated first-year earnings of $42,938 produces a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62—below the national median for business programs. However, the earnings figure comes from Tennessee's median business bachelor's programs, and Le Moyne-Owen's actual outcomes remain unknown due to insufficient graduate sample sizes. With 71% of students receiving Pell grants, this institution serves a predominantly low-income population where even moderate debt can strain family finances.

The comparison to Tennessee's top business programs is sobering. Similar programs at UT-Knoxville, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Rhodes College report first-year earnings exceeding $58,000—roughly $15,000 more than the state median this estimate is based on. That gap matters significantly when you're repaying loans. The national median of $45,703 suggests business graduates typically earn slightly more than Tennessee's average, though where Le Moyne-Owen's graduates actually land in that spectrum is unclear.

For families weighing this investment, the question centers on whether Le Moyne-Owen provides the career services, employer connections, and academic rigor that translate to competitive salaries in Memphis's business job market. The nearly open admissions (97%) and high Pell population signal an access-focused mission, but without actual graduate outcomes, you're betting on potential rather than proven results. If your child can gain admission to one of Tennessee's programs with documented higher earnings, that's likely the safer financial choice.