Business Administration, Management and Operations at Centura College-Virginia Beach

Centura College-Virginia Beach graduates are earning roughly $7,000 less than their peers at other Virginia business programs, and that gap matters when you're starting at just $27,000 annually. This places them in the bottom quarter of similar programs statewide—particularly concerning when nearby Tidewater Community College's business graduates earn $35,900 and likely carry less debt. The comparison gets worse nationally, where this program ranks in the 19th percentile.

The debt picture adds to the concern. While $23,000 might sound manageable, it's nearly double Virginia's median for this degree and well above the national average. More troubling is the earnings trajectory: graduates actually see their income decline by year four rather than grow. That combination—higher debt, lower starting pay, and shrinking earnings—creates real financial pressure during the early repayment years.

The 71% Pell Grant rate tells you this school serves students who need career advancement, but the outcomes suggest they could get better returns elsewhere. If your child is considering this program, the community college alternatives in Virginia offer significantly stronger earnings potential at lower cost. That $10,000+ earnings difference per year compounds quickly, especially when you're also starting with less debt.