Business Administration, Management and Operations at Eastern Arizona College

In Arizona, business administration associate's programs show significant earnings variation, but peer programs suggest Eastern Arizona College's graduates could start around $43,000—meaningfully above the national median of $34,000 for this credential. The estimated debt burden of $8,900 is notably lower than both the state median ($24,400) and national median ($14,000) for similar programs, pointing to a more affordable path into business careers.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 suggests graduates from comparable programs typically earn enough to manage their debt comfortably—you'd expect to borrow roughly 21 cents for every dollar earned in the first year. However, it's worth noting that Arizona's business associate's programs produce widely different outcomes: some Phoenix-area programs report first-year earnings above $56,000, while others hover around $30,000. Without specific outcome data from Eastern Arizona College itself, you're working with broader estimates based on similar programs across the state.

The practical advantage here is the contained cost. If your child can complete this associate's degree with under $9,000 in debt, they'll have flexibility to either enter the workforce without heavy loan payments or continue toward a bachelor's degree. Just recognize that "business administration" is broad—success likely depends on which specific business skills they develop and where in Arizona they plan to work.