Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degree) at Craven Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,246

Est. from NC median (21 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,232

Est. from NC median (10 programs)

Analysis

North Carolina's business associate's degree programs carry significantly higher debt than the national norm, and Craven Community College appears no exception. With an estimated $21,232 in debt—based on comparable programs at similar NC institutions—graduates would face a debt burden that's 52% higher than the national median for this credential. Meanwhile, projected earnings of $35,246 align with the state median but fall short of what students achieve at several peer community colleges across North Carolina, where top programs report first-year earnings reaching above $40,000.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 means students would likely dedicate more than half their first-year salary to paying off loans—a heavier burden than many business programs demand. For context, a third of Craven students receive Pell grants, suggesting many come from families where this level of debt could strain finances considerably. The question becomes whether this particular pathway makes sense when other NC community colleges appear to deliver stronger outcomes with similar estimated debt loads.

Given the uncertainty around these estimates and the availability of programs with verified higher earnings nearby, families should weigh whether Craven's specific program offers advantages—like location, support services, or connections to local employers—that justify the investment over alternatives with documented track records.

Where Craven Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in North Carolina

Business Administration, Management and Operations associates's programs at peer institutions in North Carolina (63 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Craven Community CollegeNew Bern	$2,022	$35,246*	—	$21,232*	—
Catawba Valley Community CollegeHickory	$2,367	$41,425*	$34,570	—*	—
Davidson-Davie Community CollegeThomasville	$1,978	$41,278*	—	$24,125*	0.58
Forsyth Technical Community CollegeWinston-Salem	$2,256	$39,760*	$42,950	$13,641*	0.34
Vance-Granville Community CollegeHenderson	$1,956	$38,146*	$33,028	—*	—
Mitchell Community CollegeStatesville	$2,651	$38,020*	$36,666	—*	—
National Median	—	$33,977*	—	$13,980*	0.41

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Craven Community College, approximately 34% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 21 similar programs in NC. Actual outcomes may vary.