Business Administration, Management and Operations at Arapahoe Community College

A certificate program carrying $13,390 in debt—based on what similar Colorado community colleges report—demands careful scrutiny, especially when the estimated first-year salary of $41,596 barely exceeds what comparable programs produce statewide. That debt load is slightly better than the national median for these certificates, but it's still a substantial sum for credentials that typically take less than a year to complete. For context, University of Colorado Denver's business administration certificate holders earn around $57,000 first-year, suggesting that not all business certificates in Colorado deliver the same outcomes.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 sits in workable territory—about four months of gross pay to cover what you borrowed. But peer programs at Colorado community colleges show a range: some graduates start at $38,500, others at $42,000. Without program-specific data for Arapahoe, you're betting on landing toward the middle or upper end of that range. The real question is whether this certificate opens doors your child couldn't access otherwise, or if they're paying for credentials that won't differentiate them in Colorado's job market.

Given the uncertainty here, treat this as a low-cost credential only—if the actual debt climbs closer to $20,000, the math deteriorates quickly. The estimated figures suggest moderate value, but verify what Arapahoe's specific graduates actually earn and owe before committing.