Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Daytona State College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$40,824

45th percentile

60th percentile in Florida

Median Debt

$10,740

43% below national median

Analysis

The small sample size here demands caution, but Daytona State's entrepreneurship certificate shows some surprising strengths for Florida students. While graduates earn slightly below the national median at $40,824, they're outperforming 60% of similar programs across Florida—a meaningful advantage when most students will stay in-state. More importantly, the debt picture stands out: at $10,740, students are borrowing roughly $3,000 less than the typical Florida program and nearly half the national median.

That low debt creates a manageable 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly three months of income. For a certificate program designed to launch small ventures or supplement other credentials, this quick-return model makes sense. The first-year earnings won't wow anyone, but they're competitive with other Florida certificate options, including programs at larger community colleges like Hillsborough.

The caveat matters: fewer than 30 graduates means one exceptional (or struggling) cohort can skew these numbers significantly. But if you're specifically looking at Florida certificate programs in entrepreneurship and want to minimize debt while testing business concepts, Daytona State's low borrowing requirement gives students breathing room to take risks—which is rather the point of studying entrepreneurship.

Where Daytona State College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all entrepreneurial and small business operations certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Daytona State College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (26 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach	$3,106	$40,824	—	$10,740	0.26
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa	$2,506	$36,690	—	$16,573	0.45
National Median	—	$41,684	—	$18,788	0.45

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with entrepreneurial and small business operations graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Personal Service Managers, All Other

All personal service managers not listed separately.

Fitness and Wellness Coordinators

Manage or coordinate fitness and wellness programs and services. Manage and train staff of wellness specialists, health educators, or fitness instructors.

Spa Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of a spa facility. Coordinate programs, schedule and direct staff, and oversee financial activities.

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

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 Daytona State 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.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 26 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.