Marketing at Southern University Law Center

This program's $40,750 first-year earnings figure sits right in the middle of Louisiana's marketing landscape—better than the state median but trailing Tulane's $61,413 by a significant margin. The estimated $22,263 debt burden, derived from comparable programs at similar Louisiana institutions, yields a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates could reasonably expect to pay off their loans within a few years if they prioritize it, which is better than many bachelor's programs across other fields.

The challenge lies in the national comparison, where this program lands at just the 25th percentile for marketing graduates nationwide. While $40,750 provides a solid starting point in Louisiana's lower cost-of-living environment, it lags the national marketing median of $44,728. However, the estimated debt load also runs about $2,000 below the national average, which partially offsets the earnings gap.

For a child committed to staying in Louisiana after graduation, these numbers work—the debt is reasonable and the earnings are competitive within the state. But if they're eyeing marketing opportunities in higher-cost markets like Atlanta or Dallas, they'll be starting from a disadvantage compared to peers from programs producing stronger national outcomes. The key question is whether Louisiana's job market aligns with their career goals.