Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Mobile

University of Mobile's business program saddles graduates with significantly more debt than they can reasonably handle. With $43,141 in loans against first-year earnings of just $35,819, the debt burden exceeds annual income—one of the highest debt loads among business programs nationwide. While graduates earn right around Alabama's median for the program, they're carrying nearly 50% more debt than typical in-state peers. That $8,000 debt premium means these students face monthly payments that will strain budgets earning $3,000 per month before taxes.

The earnings trajectory offers some relief: four years out, median pay reaches $41,840, but that's still about $4,000 below the state median and trails Alabama's top business programs by $15,000-20,000. Graduates from Auburn or University of Alabama in similar majors are earning substantially more with comparable or lower debt loads. For context, Columbia Southern graduates in this field earn $58,468—nearly $17,000 more annually—which dramatically changes the debt payback equation.

This program charges private university prices while delivering below-average career outcomes. Unless your child has substantial financial aid that brings borrowing well below the typical amount, the math here doesn't work. The state's public universities offer better earnings prospects with less debt, making this a hard program to justify at sticker price.