Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach provides exceptional access to higher education for low-income and first-generation students who might otherwise lack college opportunities.
However, graduates face significant earnings challenges that limit long-term financial benefits despite the institution's affordable pricing.
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach is a small private nonprofit institution that focuses on career-oriented education in Virginia Beach. The college serves a predominantly low-income and first-generation student population, with 62% of students receiving Pell Grants and 54% being first-generation college students. About 44% of students transfer in from other institutions, reflecting the college's role as a pathway for students seeking to complete their degrees.
The institution emphasizes affordability and accessibility over high earnings outcomes. Net prices are relatively reasonable across income levels, with low-income students paying about $12,058 annually and middle-income families paying around $14,371. However, graduates face significant earnings challenges, with median 10-year earnings of $32,568 placing the college in the bottom 3% nationally for return on investment.
As an "Under-Resourced Institution" in Azimuth's mobility framework, Bryant & Stratton provides broad access to higher education but struggles to deliver strong economic outcomes for its graduates. The college's completion rates are low, with only 28% of students graduating within six years, and low-income students earn substantially less than their peers at other institutions.
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach offers a limited program portfolio focused primarily on business education. Business Administration and Management serves as the institution's flagship program, graduating 21 students annually with median 10-year earnings of $34,963. While this represents the college's strongest financial outcome, these earnings levels remain well below national averages for business graduates.
The narrow program focus reflects the college's career-oriented mission, but it also limits students' options for pursuing higher-earning fields. Unlike comprehensive institutions that offer engineering, technology, healthcare, or other high-return majors, Bryant & Stratton concentrates on business-related disciplines that typically produce more modest earnings outcomes.
The small scale of individual programs means limited alumni networks and employer relationships compared with larger institutions. With only 21 business graduates annually, the college cannot provide the extensive industry connections that often help graduates access better-paying positions or advance more quickly in their careers.
Graduates of Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach face significant earnings challenges compared with other college graduates. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $32,568, placing the institution in the bottom 3% nationally for long-term financial outcomes. While graduates do earn slightly more than expected given the institution's profile—about $1,521 above the counterfactual—this modest earnings advantage cannot overcome the low absolute earnings levels.
The college's primary program is Business Administration and Management, which graduates 21 students annually and produces median 10-year earnings of $34,963. This represents the institution's strongest financial outcome, but even this flagship program delivers earnings well below national averages for business graduates. The limited program portfolio concentrates heavily in business-related fields, with few options in higher-earning areas like engineering, technology, or healthcare.
Only 40 graduates across all programs earn more than $75,000 annually, highlighting the narrow range of high-earning outcomes. The college's career-focused approach aims to prepare students for immediate workforce entry, but the resulting earnings levels suggest graduates may struggle to achieve long-term financial security compared with peers from other institutions.
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach maintains relatively affordable net prices across income levels, making it accessible to families with limited financial resources. Low-income students pay about $12,058 per year, while middle-income families face costs around $14,371 annually. Interestingly, high-income families pay slightly less at $10,928, likely reflecting the institution's focus on serving working adults and non-traditional students who may qualify for various forms of aid.
Debt levels are moderate but concerning given the low earnings outcomes. Typical graduates leave with about $21,549 in federal student loan debt, and some families also take on Parent PLUS loans averaging $7,900. While these debt amounts are not extreme by national standards, they become problematic when paired with the institution's low post-graduation earnings. The college reports a 0% federal loan default rate, but this figure may not capture the full picture of repayment challenges graduates face.
The combination of moderate debt and low earnings creates affordability concerns that extend well beyond college. Graduates earning $32,568 annually may struggle to manage standard loan payments while covering basic living expenses, potentially requiring income-driven repayment plans or other forms of assistance to avoid financial distress.
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