Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Loyola Marymount University

A $20,500 debt load sits below both California and national averages for entrepreneurship programs, which is meaningful given LMU's $80,000+ sticker price and position as a selective private university. The estimated first-year earnings of $40,890—derived from just three comparable California programs—align with the state median but trail the national benchmark by nearly $4,400. By year four, earnings climb to nearly $60,000, suggesting the degree's value materializes over time rather than immediately at graduation.

The comparison to peer programs reveals why estimation was necessary here: only three other California schools had reportable outcomes for this bachelor's, with a narrow range from $37,800 to $43,100. LMU falls in the middle of this pack while keeping debt substantially lower than the national median of $24,125. That's notable for a private institution where many students graduate owing significantly more across other programs.

The real question is whether entrepreneurship as a formal credential delivers enough structure and network access to justify four years of tuition when many successful business owners launch ventures without this specific degree. The moderate debt and eventual mid-career earnings suggest this program won't create financial barriers to taking business risks—but the limited data from peer schools means you're working with considerable uncertainty about what LMU graduates specifically achieve. If your child is entrepreneurially minded, the low debt matters more than the credential itself.