Business, Management, Marketing, at South Georgia State College

South Georgia State College's business program sits at an interesting crossroads: while it lands in just the 25th percentile nationally for earnings, it's actually the median performer among Georgia business programs. With first-year earnings of $39,584 and debt of $20,333, graduates face a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51—meaning they owe roughly half their first-year salary, which is considerably better than the typical business graduate nationwide.

The real story here is cost efficiency. At $20,333 in median debt, graduates borrow about $6,000 less than the national median for business programs, while earning what's typical for Georgia. Given that 52% of students receive Pell grants, this represents a pathway into business careers for students who might struggle with the debt loads at pricier institutions. The lower earnings reflect Georgia's regional economy rather than program quality—$39,584 goes further in Douglas than in Atlanta or coastal cities.

For Georgia families, this program offers reasonable value: typical state earnings with below-average debt. Parents should recognize this isn't a high-octane business program that will launch graduates into $60,000+ corporate positions, but it provides solid fundamentals at a price point that won't bury students in debt. The key question is whether your student plans to stay in Georgia's smaller markets, where this credential makes practical sense, or whether they're targeting major metro areas where the earnings gap might matter more.