Location: Arnold, MD•In-State Tuition: $4,178•Out-of-State Tuition: $11,330
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,801
Est. from MD median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$10,750
Est. from MD median (7 programs)

Analysis

Similar business programs in Maryland suggest first-year earnings around $36,800, but the four-year trajectory tells a more interesting story. Graduates from this program earn $56,194 four years out—substantially higher than the typical starting point and well above what most Maryland associate degree holders in business earn. That kind of growth indicates the credential opens doors, even if the initial salary doesn't wow.

The estimated debt load of $10,750 works out to roughly three months of that first-year salary, a manageable burden by most standards. This sits below both the state median for similar programs and the national benchmark, which matters when you're comparing Anne Arundel to alternatives. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 suggests graduates can realistically handle repayment while building their careers.

Keep in mind these figures come from peer programs across Maryland rather than Anne Arundel's specific outcomes. What you can bank on: the four-year earnings are actual reported data for this program, showing real upward momentum. For families worried about starting salaries, that mid-50s income by year four—combined with modest debt—makes this a relatively safe bet among community college business programs, though students planning to transfer should factor in additional costs ahead.

Where Anne Arundel Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Anne Arundel Community College (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Anne Arundel Community College—$56,194—
Montgomery College$29,449$51,009+73%
Strayer University-Maryland$44,154$47,516+8%
Community College of Baltimore County$36,801$44,670+21%
Hagerstown Community College$41,970$44,478+6%

Compare to Similar Programs in Maryland

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in Maryland (17 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Anne Arundel Community CollegeArnold$4,178$36,801*$56,194$10,750*—
Strayer University-MarylandSuitland$13,920$44,154*$47,516$32,810*0.74
Hagerstown Community CollegeHagerstown$4,320$41,970*$44,478$12,750*0.30
Community College of Baltimore CountyBaltimore$4,380$36,801*$44,670$17,499*0.48
Frederick Community CollegeFrederick$3,772$33,619*$42,863$7,062*0.21
Montgomery CollegeRockville$5,394$29,449*$51,009$9,250*0.31
National Median—$36,591*—$13,437*0.37
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Anne Arundel Community College, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in MD. Actual outcomes may vary.