Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach
Associate's Degree
bryantstratton.eduAnalysis
The earnings trajectory here should immediately concern any parent: graduates earn $30,125 their first year but see that drop to $26,332 by year four—a 13% decline that's the opposite of what you want from a degree investment. While this program performs above the national median for business operations programs, it lands squarely in the middle of Virginia offerings (40th percentile), and nearby community colleges like Tidewater and Virginia Peninsula deliver stronger outcomes at likely lower cost.
The debt picture compounds the problem. At $27,300, graduates carry about $7,000 more debt than the Virginia median for this program, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one that only worsens as earnings decline. Given that 62% of students here receive Pell grants, this debt burden hits families who can least afford a program that doesn't build toward higher earnings.
The sample size is small—under 30 graduates tracked—so these numbers could shift with more data. But right now, the pattern is clear: paying premium tuition for outcomes that trail the state's community college options doesn't make financial sense. If your child is set on this career path, exploring the community college alternatives that deliver better earnings with less debt would be the smarter play.
Where Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all business operations support and assistant services associates's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach | $30,125 | $26,332 | -13% |
| Northwood Technical College | $27,494 | $37,335 | +36% |
| Tidewater Community College | $35,687 | $29,071 | -19% |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | $34,177 | $28,544 | -16% |
| Southside Virginia Community College | $18,788 | $24,759 | +32% |
Compare to Similar Programs in Virginia
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Virginia (19 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,457 | $30,125 | $26,332 | $27,300 | 0.91 | |
| $5,714 | $35,687 | $29,071 | $22,300 | 0.62 | |
| $4,944 | $34,177 | $28,544 | $16,604 | 0.49 | |
| $4,848 | $18,788 | $24,759 | — | — | |
| National Median | — | $28,691 | — | $20,000 | 0.70 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with business operations support and assistant services graduates
Procurement Clerks
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Correspondence Clerks
File Clerks
Order Clerks
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
Office Clerks, General
Customer Service Representatives
Receptionists and Information Clerks
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 Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach, approximately 62% 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.