Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Chippewa Valley Technical College

Chippewa Valley Technical College's business operations program stands out in Wisconsin's technical college system, with graduates earning about 22% more than the state median for this field. At $36,178 in first-year earnings, this places in the 80th percentile statewide—notably higher than comparable programs at Gateway ($28,779) and Madison Area Technical College ($27,467). The debt load of $22,650 isn't trivial, but the 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay this off in about 7-8 months of gross income, which is manageable.

The downside? Earnings slip to $34,537 by year four, a 4% decline that's worth understanding. This could reflect graduates moving between jobs, transitioning to part-time work, or regional economic factors in the Eau Claire area. It's an unusual pattern, though the earnings remain solid compared to state and national benchmarks even after the dip.

The real caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported data, so these numbers could shift significantly year to year. For a family considering this program, the strong initial placement and competitive earnings within Wisconsin are encouraging signs, but recognize you're looking at a limited snapshot. The program appears to prepare students well for the local job market, just don't bank on automatic salary growth in those first few years.