Business Administration, Management and Operations at Virginia Union University

Virginia Union's business program faces serious challenges that deserve careful consideration, particularly given the first-year earnings of just $19,354—less than half the Virginia state median of $45,557 for business graduates. This places the program in the bottom 10th percentile statewide, meaning 90% of Virginia business programs deliver better initial outcomes. With $29,000 in median debt, graduates start nearly 1.5 times in the hole compared to their first-year earnings, creating immediate financial strain.

The 68% earnings jump to $32,573 by year four offers some recovery, but even that improved figure falls $13,000 short of what typical Virginia business graduates earn right out of school. For context, even middling programs in the state are producing graduates who start around $45,000, while top programs like William & Mary place business grads near $75,000. The university serves a predominantly low-income student body (51% on Pell grants), which makes these earnings outcomes particularly concerning since these students have the least margin for financial setbacks.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances could be skewing results, but the consistency across both the 1-year and 4-year marks suggests a pattern. If your child is set on Virginia Union for other compelling reasons, know that this business program will likely require several years of below-market earnings before reaching what peers earn immediately elsewhere. The debt load, while not extraordinarily high, becomes problematic when paired with these weak earnings.