Business Administration, Management and Operations at Amarillo College

At $34,489 in first-year earnings, Amarillo College graduates from this business certificate program earn about $3,400 less than the typical Texas graduate and nearly $5,000 below the national median. That 40th percentile ranking in Texas places it in the bottom half of state options—notably behind comparable community college programs like Dallas College ($46,874) and Tarrant County College ($38,168). For context, other accessible Texas community colleges are generating significantly stronger outcomes from similar programs.

The debt load of $17,500 sits above both state and national medians, though the 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates would dedicate roughly half a year's salary to repaying loans. That's not alarming, but it's also not a clear win when you're already starting $3,400 behind the Texas median. The 44% Pell grant rate indicates this program serves economically vulnerable students who particularly need strong earnings outcomes.

For a certificate program that should provide quick workforce entry, these numbers suggest limited competitive advantage. If your child is set on Amarillo College for personal or logistical reasons, this won't saddle them with crushing debt. But if they have flexibility, other Texas community colleges are delivering substantially better returns on similar credentials. The modest sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these outcomes, and the pattern is consistent: this program underperforms accessible alternatives.