Business Administration, Management and Operations at Community College of Aurora

Community College of Aurora's business certificate lags behind most Colorado alternatives, landing in just the 40th percentile statewide with first-year earnings of $38,496—about $3,100 below the state median for this credential. More concerning, graduates here earn roughly $15,000 less than those from nearby University of Colorado Denver and trail even Front Range Community College by over $3,000. The modest 5% earnings bump over four years suggests limited advancement potential compared to what other Colorado programs deliver.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $15,235, borrowing sits near national norms and translates to a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio. For students who can't relocate or need the flexibility of Aurora's campus, this program won't saddle them with crushing payments. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year, adding uncertainty to an already underwhelming performance.

If your student has other options among Colorado's 19 business certificate programs, particularly at Front Range or CU Denver, those appear to offer substantially better returns. Aurora makes sense primarily as a last-resort choice for students with specific geographic constraints—but even then, the gap in earning potential is steep enough to warrant serious consideration of commuting alternatives.