Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degree) at Davenport University

Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated

$34,837

Est. from MI median (14 programs)

Est. Median DebtEstimated

$27,750

Est. from MI median (3 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

The estimated $27,750 debt burden here is roughly double what most Michigan business associate's programs carry—state peers typically hold closer to $14,000 in loans—while projected first-year earnings of $34,837 land squarely in the middle of the pack for Michigan programs. That debt difference matters: you're looking at monthly loan payments potentially eating up a much larger share of early paychecks than graduates from comparable community college programs in the state face.

Several Michigan community colleges with reported outcomes show their business associate's graduates earning $40,000-$43,000 in year one, suggesting there may be stronger regional alternatives if your child is committed to staying local. Based on similar programs at Davenport, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 means nearly a year's salary in loans, which is manageable but not comfortable—especially when Grand Rapids Community College and others are producing higher earners with half the debt load.

If Davenport offers specific advantages like scheduling flexibility or transfer pathways that matter for your family's situation, the premium might make sense. But purely from a financial standpoint, the estimated numbers suggest starting at a community college would likely mean lower debt and comparable or better earnings potential in Michigan's business job market.

Where Davenport University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Business Administration, Management and Operations associates's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (43 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Davenport UniversityGrand Rapids	$23,324	$34,837*	—	$27,750*	—
Macomb Community CollegeWarren	$3,600	$43,491*	$46,862	$9,500*	0.22
Lansing Community CollegeLansing	$4,010	$43,026*	$37,632	$17,248*	0.40
Grand Rapids Community CollegeGrand Rapids	$4,059	$41,712*	$38,923	$13,925*	0.33
Washtenaw Community CollegeAnn Arbor	$2,736	$41,152*	$43,361	$19,691*	0.48
Baker CollegeOwosso	$12,810	$40,585*	$40,078	$23,937*	0.59
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 Davenport University, approximately 30% 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 14 similar programs in MI. Actual outcomes may vary.