Business/Commerce at Cascadia College

The $11,500 debt estimate for this associate's degree positions it favorably—similar Washington programs carry the same median burden, and that's significantly lighter than the $13,437 national benchmark. Combined with a first-year earnings estimate around $36,600 based on peer programs nationwide, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 suggests manageable repayment, though these projections come from comparable programs rather than Cascadia's actual graduate outcomes.

What complicates the picture is the dramatic jump to $70,400 by year four—nearly double the initial figure. If this reflects actual outcomes for Cascadia graduates (the four-year data wasn't suppressed), it suggests strong medium-term prospects that far exceed what nearby community colleges like Tacoma and Clark achieve. However, similar Washington programs typically start closer to $40,600, meaning the initial earning period might be tougher than statewide peers experience.

The investment math works if that four-year number holds true: you'd be looking at modest debt against solid mid-career earnings. But without confirmed first-year outcomes specific to Cascadia, there's genuine uncertainty about the transition period right after graduation. If your student needs immediate income to justify the degree, the national baseline estimate doesn't inspire tremendous confidence compared to other Washington options.