Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Alabama in Huntsville

UAH's business program starts slow but accelerates impressively—graduates earn $39,476 in year one but jump to $55,070 by year four, a 40% increase that eventually lands them above both state and national medians. The challenging part is that initial year when earnings lag significantly behind the national average of $46,000, though the $22,447 in typical debt is notably lower than both the state ($29,563) and national ($26,000) medians, creating breathing room during those early career years.

Within Alabama, this program sits squarely in the middle at the 40th percentile, well behind Auburn and University of Alabama's offerings but performing respectably given UAH's engineering-focused reputation. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 means graduates should be able to manage their loans, especially as their salaries climb. However, the year-one earnings are concerning for students who need immediate income—this isn't the program for someone who needs to start earning aggressively right after graduation.

The real question is whether your child can weather that first year or two of below-average earnings. If they have financial support or flexibility during their early career, the strong earnings growth and manageable debt make this a reasonable choice. If they need immediate returns, the flagship programs at Auburn or UA might justify their higher upfront investment.