Business Administration, Management and Operations at Berkeley College-New York

Berkeley College's business management program sits comfortably in the top 40% both nationally and among New York programs—meaningful given that New York has 67 schools offering this degree. Graduates earn about $36,000, which beats the state median by over $6,000 and outpaces the national average as well. The manageable debt load of $23,148 creates a reasonable 0.64 ratio to first-year earnings, considerably better than many associate's programs.

The stagnant earnings trajectory deserves attention: graduates show essentially no income growth between years one and four. While this pattern appears in several associate's programs, parents should understand their child would likely need additional credentials or career pivots to increase earning power. Still, for the 54% of students here receiving Pell grants, this represents a relatively affordable path to above-average entry-level business earnings.

This program works best as a stepping stone rather than a destination—solid for getting into the workforce quickly at a decent starting salary, especially compared to other New York options. Just recognize that $36,000 appears to be the ceiling without further education or significant career development.