Business Administration, Management and Operations at Louisiana State University-Alexandria

LSU-Alexandria's business program sits squarely in the middle of Louisiana options but significantly trails national performance, with first-year graduates earning $38,225—about $7,500 below the national median for business degrees. More concerning is the earnings trajectory: graduates see their income drop 10% by year four rather than grow. At the state level, this program lands at the 40th percentile, meaning six out of ten Louisiana business programs deliver better outcomes. The debt load of $26,000 matches both state and national medians, so the challenge isn't excessive borrowing—it's insufficient earnings to justify even moderate debt.

The comparison to other Louisiana schools tells the story clearly. Tulane graduates earn 60% more in their first year, but even regional competitors like Louisiana Tech ($42,099) and LSU-Shreveport ($43,321) outpace LSU-Alexandria by $4,000-$5,000 annually. Given the school's 93% admission rate and that over a third of students receive Pell grants, many families here need these early-career earnings to work hard for them—and declining income patterns make that difficult.

For Louisiana families, this program represents a path to a business degree, but not necessarily to competitive business earnings. If your student has options at Louisiana Tech, LSU-Shreveport, or even McNeese, those programs deliver measurably better financial outcomes with similar accessibility and likely comparable tuition costs.