Business Administration, Management and Operations at Loyola University New Orleans

Based on similar business programs across Louisiana, first-year earnings around $38,500 paired with $27,000 in debt creates a manageable 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly 70% of what they earn in their first year. That's actually below both the national debt median for business programs and puts the debt burden in the 25th percentile nationally, which is favorable. However, the earnings picture tells a more challenging story. While we don't have specific outcomes for Loyola's business graduates, peer programs in Louisiana suggest earnings that trail the national median by about $7,200 annually.

The gap with Louisiana's top performers is striking. Tulane business grads start at $61,000, and even public universities like Louisiana Tech report first-year earnings above $42,000. This matters because New Orleans has a competitive business job market, and employers don't automatically reward the Jesuit education premium that might show up in later career stages. The relatively low debt helps—you're not watching your child service crushing loans on a modest salary—but that 88% admission rate signals this isn't the selective program that opens doors through its network alone.

The practical question: can your child afford to earn $15,000-$23,000 less than peers from other Louisiana programs in those crucial first years after graduation? If the Loyola experience itself—smaller classes, values-based education, urban location—justifies that trade-off and the debt stays around $27,000, this works as a life choice. If career acceleration and earning power are the priorities, the estimates suggest looking at programs with stronger placement outcomes.