Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Bryant & Stratton College-Albany

With a small cohort to draw from, Bryant & Stratton College-Albany's business operations certificate shows earnings that trail the national median by $2,500, landing at $22,570. But here's the critical context: those same earnings actually hit the median for New York state programs, placing graduates at the 60th percentile among NY schools. In a high-cost state where administrative support roles may face wage compression, matching the state median isn't the worst outcome, particularly given that 65% of students receive Pell grants and likely have limited alternatives.

The debt load of $14,012 is substantially higher than the national program median of $9,500, though the 0.62 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable—graduates would owe roughly 62% of their first year's salary. The certificate does what it's designed to do: provides quick workforce entry at a cost that can be repaid within a few years. Still, the small sample size means one or two graduates' outcomes could swing these figures significantly.

For families considering this path, the comparison to Onondaga Cortland Madison BOCES is stark—graduates there earn $31,400, nearly $9,000 more annually. If your student can access that program instead, it's the clear winner. Bryant & Stratton works as a backup option for students who need the specific location or schedule flexibility, but explore BOCES programs first. The debt is reasonable enough that this won't create a financial crisis, but it's not going to deliver rapid wealth building either.