Business Administration, Management and Operations at Clover Park Technical College

When small program sizes force us to look at peer data, the picture for business administration at Clover Park becomes clearer in context. Similar associate's programs in Washington suggest first-year earnings around $35,000—right at the state median but well below what graduates from Columbia Basin or Perry Technical achieve. The estimated $16,000 debt load, while slightly above the national benchmark, translates to a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46. That's roughly five months of gross income, which represents a reasonable initial burden for an associate's degree.

The challenge is that business administration associate's degrees vary dramatically in their returns. Programs across Washington's 34 schools range from just over $20,000 to more than $42,000 in first-year earnings—a spread that matters enormously when you're trying to recoup a five-figure investment. Without specific outcome data for Clover Park's graduates, you're relying on the fact that most comparable programs cluster near the middle of that range, not at either extreme. The estimated figures suggest adequate rather than exceptional returns—a credential that should pay for itself but won't likely provide the financial cushion that top-performing programs deliver. Given this uncertainty, your decision should weigh whether your child has strong local employment connections or specific career plans where this degree serves as a clear stepping stone.