Business Administration, Management and Operations at Shaw University

Shaw University's business program produces first-year earnings of $34,652—about $9,000 below North Carolina's median for business degrees and nearly $11,000 below the national average. Even among North Carolina's 52 business programs, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, meaning three-quarters of similar state programs deliver better initial outcomes. The debt load of $34,265 essentially equals a full year's starting salary, a concerning starting point that's significantly above both state and national norms for business graduates.

The earnings trajectory does improve, reaching $40,945 by year four (an 18% gain), but this still lags well behind what graduates earn from NC State ($56,877) or UNC-Chapel Hill ($85,618) at similar career stages. For a family evaluating in-state options, the financial gap is substantial and persistent. The program primarily serves students from lower-income backgrounds (65% receive Pell grants), which adds important context, but doesn't change the fundamental math: graduates are starting behind their peers across the state.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset—means individual circumstances could skew these numbers. However, if this represents the typical outcome, families should understand they're accepting below-market earnings while taking on above-market debt. That's a difficult combination that requires either strong personal commitment to Shaw specifically or a backup plan for career advancement.