Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at The University of Alabama

Alabama's Management Sciences program graduates start at $60,832—slightly below both the state median ($62,836) and national average, ranking in just the 40th percentile among Alabama's four programs. With Auburn graduates earning $64,841 in the same field, parents should understand they're not getting the state's strongest return here, despite Alabama's broader brand recognition.

The debt picture offers some relief: $25,000 is manageable, translating to a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio that beats most national benchmarks. That means monthly payments won't overwhelm entry-level salaries. The 20% earnings jump to $73,219 by year four suggests decent career trajectory once graduates establish themselves, though this still trails what Auburn delivers from the start.

For in-state students paying lower tuition, this works as a solid middle-ground option—you're trading top-tier outcomes for accessibility at a school with a 76% admission rate. But families paying out-of-state premiums should question whether the investment makes sense when the program performs below both state and national medians. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) adds some uncertainty, but the pattern is clear enough: this program delivers average results at below-average cost, which is reasonable value for the right student but nothing exceptional.