Business Administration, Management and Operations at City College-Hollywood

The numbers here tell a troubling story: graduates earn $38,802 in their first year but see that income **drop** to $28,456 by year four—a 27% decline that's the opposite of what career progression should look like. Meanwhile, they're carrying $54,635 in debt, more than double the typical debt load for business programs in Florida ($22,625) and nationally ($26,000). That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.41, meaning graduates owe roughly 17 months of their first-year salary before the income trajectory turns downward.

While this program ranks at the 40th percentile among Florida business programs—essentially middle of the pack in the state—that comparison obscures how far it lags behind both the state median ($45,072) and especially the top-performing programs. Florida Tech and Lynn University graduates start at nearly double these earnings levels. The 100% open admission and 100% Pell Grant enrollment suggest City College serves students who may have limited alternatives, but serving underrepresented students doesn't excuse leaving them with unsustainable debt relative to their earnings potential.

For parents, the math is stark: borrowing $54,635 to earn under $30,000 four years post-graduation creates serious financial stress. Unless your child can avoid loans entirely or has specific career connections that would alter this trajectory, this program's combination of high debt and declining earnings makes it difficult to justify as an investment.