Business Administration, Management and Operations at Loyola Marymount University

The small sample size here is a real limitation, but the numbers tell a cautionary story for a private university charging private-school tuition. At $43,152 in first-year earnings, LMU business graduates are earning less than both the California median ($49,543) and the national median ($45,703) for this major—landing in the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters in expensive Los Angeles, where cost of living puts immediate pressure on entry-level salaries. The debt load of $21,875 isn't outrageous compared to national norms, but given that only 13% of students receive Pell grants, most families here are likely paying significant out-of-pocket costs beyond what's captured in these federal loan figures.

The real concern is the comparison to peer institutions. USC and Pepperdine business graduates—schools with similar profiles—start around $70,000, while LMU's figure sits closer to California State University outcomes despite the private university price tag. Cal Poly SLO, a public school with more selective admission than LMU, shows graduates earning $71,876. With fewer than 30 graduates in this data sample, individual circumstances could be skewing results, but parents should probe deeply into LMU's career services, alumni network strength in LA's competitive business market, and the specific concentrations within this program before committing to four years of private tuition for below-median outcomes.