Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Georgia

UGA's business program punches well above Georgia's weight class—graduates earn 43% more than the state median while carrying 27% less debt than typical in-state students. That combination places it in the 80th percentile among Georgia business programs and 87th percentile nationally, despite costing significantly less than flashier alternatives like Emory ($85,682) or Georgia Tech ($73,557).

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34 is exceptionally healthy, meaning graduates owe just over a third of their first-year salary. With starting pay at $56,630 climbing to $63,445 by year four, the financial trajectory supports both immediate loan payoff and long-term career building. The 12% earnings growth suggests solid career progression, and the robust sample size confirms these aren't outlier results.

For families weighing in-state options, this program delivers elite outcomes at public school economics. Only Georgia's most selective institutions—Emory and Tech—outperform it, and both come with substantially higher total costs and admission barriers (UGA's 37% acceptance rate versus Tech's 16%). Your child gets top-tier business outcomes without the premium price tag or engineering-school competition.