Business Administration, Management and Operations at Thomas University

Thomas University's business program serves a primarily regional student body—47% receive Pell grants—but generates earnings that lag significantly behind state and national benchmarks. First-year graduates earn $36,436, roughly $8,000 below Georgia's median for business programs and $9,000 below the national average. Among Georgia's 54 business programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile. The debt load of $26,125 is typical for the field, but paired with below-average earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 0.72—manageable but not competitive with stronger in-state options like UGA ($56,630) or Georgia Tech ($73,557).

The small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, so they're less reliable than data from larger programs. That said, the gap between this program and other Georgia options is wide enough to warrant serious consideration of alternatives, particularly public universities that offer better earnings potential at similar or lower debt levels.

For families choosing between Thomas and other Georgia schools, the question is whether proximity or specific institutional fit justifies accepting substantially lower earnings trajectories. If your student is considering this program, compare financial aid packages carefully against state universities—the difference in earning power could amount to $20,000 annually in those critical early career years.