Business Administration, Management and Operations at Century College

The estimated $18,649 in debt sits squarely in the middle for Minnesota business administration associate programs, while first-year earnings matching the state median suggest Century College's program performs on par with peers. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45, graduates from similar programs typically manage their debt within manageable bounds. The four-year earnings jump to $52,250 indicates strong earning potential as graduates gain experience, putting this trajectory well above the national median of $33,977 and competitive within Minnesota's market.

However, it's worth noting that several community colleges in the state—North Hennepin, Dakota County Technical—report first-year earnings exceeding $45,000 for their business programs. The difference between Century's estimated $41,100 and these reported figures could represent $4,000-6,000 in additional first-year income elsewhere. For a two-year program, that gap matters when you're managing nearly $19,000 in debt from day one.

The practical takeaway: this appears to be a middle-of-the-road investment for Minnesota business programs—not a standout, but not a red flag either. Given the limited data specific to Century College, parents should contact the career services office to ask what percentage of recent graduates are actually employed in business roles at graduation and whether they can provide salary ranges for their specific graduates.