Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Southern Mississippi

Southern Miss graduates with business degrees earn $38,757 in their first year—about $7,000 below the national median for the major and roughly $1,000 below Mississippi's state median. While this lands the program in the 20th percentile nationally, it's middle-of-the-pack for Mississippi (40th percentile). The debt load of $24,508 is reasonable, resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, which means graduates face manageable monthly payments even at these lower starting salaries.

The trajectory shows modest improvement: earnings rise to $45,711 by year four, representing 18% growth. That catches up to the national median but still trails stronger in-state options like Belhaven ($51,546) or Ole Miss ($44,971). For a school with a 99% admission rate and nearly half its students on Pell grants, these outcomes reflect its broad-access mission—it's serving students who might not have other pathways to a degree.

The practical calculus: your child will likely manage the debt without crisis, but shouldn't expect exceptional earning power from this credential. If staying in Mississippi and needing an accessible entry point to business careers, Southern Miss delivers adequate returns. If aiming for higher earnings potential and other options are available, programs like Belhaven or Ole Miss show meaningfully better outcomes.