Business Administration, Management and Operations at Ashland Community and Technical College

A 19% earnings decline between year one and year four—that's the red flag hovering over this program. While Ashland Community and Technical College graduates start near the state median at $35,770, by year four they're earning just $29,041, well below what peers at Gateway Community and Technical College ($43,658) or even nearby Jefferson Community and Technical College ($38,361) achieve. The 40th percentile ranking among Kentucky business programs tells you this isn't a competitive outcome within the state, even if it technically sits above the national median.

The debt load of $20,584 is higher than Kentucky's typical $16,255 for this program, though still reasonable by national standards. That creates a first-year ratio of 0.58, which looks manageable initially—but the real concern emerges in years two through four as earnings slide downward. Small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty here, but that backward earnings trajectory demands explanation before committing.

For families in eastern Kentucky weighing community college options, you're looking at a program that underperforms other Kentucky community colleges by $6,000 to $14,000 in eventual earnings. If staying local is essential, understand you're likely trading geographic convenience for measurably weaker economic outcomes. If willing to consider alternatives within the state system, several community colleges deliver substantially better results for similar credentials.