Business Administration, Management and Operations at Centura College-Newport News

Centura College-Newport News graduates earn roughly $7,000 less than their peers at other Virginia business programs, ranking in just the 25th percentile statewide. That gap becomes starker when you look locally—Virginia Peninsula Community College, also serving the Hampton Roads area, reports median earnings of $42,000 for the same associate degree. The concerning part isn't just the lower starting salary of $27,056, but that earnings actually slip to $26,282 by year four, suggesting limited advancement opportunities for these graduates.

The $23,000 debt load compounds this picture. While not extreme by national standards, it represents nearly a full year's salary and is double what graduates from Virginia's community colleges typically borrow for the same credential. With 80% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are counting on this degree to improve their financial position—but the return on that $23,000 investment looks questionable when local community colleges deliver significantly better outcomes at lower cost.

For parents considering this program, the community college alternatives in Virginia—several of which are geographically accessible from Newport News—offer a substantially better value proposition. The $15,000+ earnings difference isn't marginal; it's enough to fundamentally change the financial trajectory for a young graduate trying to establish themselves.