Business, Management, Marketing, at Lincoln Memorial University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52—meaning roughly six months of first-year salary to cover educational debt—suggests a manageable financial path based on what similar business programs typically produce nationally. The estimated $26,500 in borrowing aligns closely with the national median for this degree, while projected first-year earnings of $50,740 match the typical outcome for business bachelor's programs across the country. For a regional university serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students, these numbers indicate Lincoln Memorial's business program tracks with broader patterns rather than standing out as exceptional or problematic.

The challenge is that without actual outcome data for this specific program, you're essentially betting on Lincoln Memorial performing like the average business school rather than having evidence of what their graduates actually achieve. Tennessee has five institutions offering business bachelor's degrees, but none with published comparative data, leaving little visibility into how this program stacks against regional alternatives. The university's 59% admission rate and mid-range SAT scores suggest a less selective environment than flagship institutions, which can correlate with more variable career outcomes.

If your student has strong self-direction and clear career goals within business, the estimated debt level won't be crushing even if earnings come in below projections. But you're making this decision on peer program data rather than Lincoln Memorial's track record—consider whether you're comfortable with that level of uncertainty for this investment.