Marketing at Savannah State University

The numbers here are difficult to justify. Graduates from Savannah State's marketing program earn roughly $30,000 their first year—about $12,500 less than the Georgia median for marketing majors and nearly $15,000 below the national average. Even more concerning, they're carrying $34,175 in debt to achieve those earnings, which is roughly $8,000-10,000 more than typical marketing graduates across Georgia and the nation. Among Georgia's 26 marketing programs, this one ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings, meaning three-quarters of the state's programs deliver better outcomes.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.14 means graduates owe more than their entire first year's salary, making loan repayment challenging on an income that's already below what entry-level marketing positions typically pay. For comparison, the University of Georgia's marketing graduates earn $52,000 annually—nearly double what Savannah State graduates make—while carrying similar debt loads. Even mid-tier Georgia programs like Georgia Southern deliver 50% higher starting salaries.

While Savannah State serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (65%), which is admirable, your child would likely be better served by exploring other Georgia marketing programs that deliver substantially stronger returns on investment. The gap between this program's outcomes and state alternatives is simply too wide to overlook.