Business/Commerce at Dallas College

Dallas College's business associate degree shows exactly why two-year programs can make financial sense: graduates see their earnings jump 51% between years one and four, climbing from $34,000 to over $51,000. That growth trajectory matters more than the modest starting salary. Among Texas programs, this ranks in the 60th percentile—solidly middle of the pack for the state, though trailing the national median slightly.

The debt picture strengthens the case. At $10,500, graduates owe less than both the state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31 even in that first lower-earning year. By year four, when earnings hit $51,000, that debt becomes almost negligible as a percentage of income. This compares favorably to for-profit alternatives like Strayer and DeVry, which report higher starting earnings but likely come with steeper price tags.

The moderate sample size means this data represents a reasonable cross-section of outcomes, though individual results will vary. For families looking at community college business programs in North Texas, this offers a low-risk entry point with demonstrated income growth. The key is whether your student can leverage that associate degree—either moving into the workforce in a growth-track position or transferring to complete a bachelor's later.