Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Louisiana-Lafayette business graduates start at just $32,301—well below what you'd expect from a business degree and in the bottom 5% nationally. While the program is affordable relative to peers, that's not saying much when you're behind three-quarters of Louisiana business programs and trailing the state median by $6,000. Even nearby public universities like Louisiana Tech and McNeese State deliver significantly stronger starting salaries.

The earnings picture does improve considerably: graduates see 30% growth by year four, reaching nearly $42,000. That's respectable progress, but it still leaves them earning less than the typical first-year graduate from stronger Louisiana programs. The $23,250 debt load is manageable at 72% of first-year earnings, and graduates should be able to handle payments. However, you're essentially banking on that later growth to justify a business degree that starts behind community college graduates in many fields.

For families considering Louisiana schools, this represents the lower tier of options. If your student can gain admission to Louisiana Tech, LSU-Shreveport, or even McNeese State (all similarly accessible public universities), they'd start thousands ahead annually. At this price point and performance level, parents should seriously weigh whether a four-year business degree here offers better returns than starting at a two-year program or choosing a different major at Lafayette where outcomes might be stronger.