Business Administration, Management and Operations at Everett Community College

In Washington, business administration associate's degrees vary dramatically—from $42,000 first-year earnings at Columbia Basin College down to $20,000 at Tacoma Community College. Everett Community College falls squarely in the middle based on what similar programs across the state typically produce, with estimated first-year earnings around $35,000 and debt near $16,000.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 sits in reasonable territory—you're looking at roughly five months of gross income to cover the credential's cost. For comparison, the national median debt for this program type is slightly lower at $14,000, but the earnings estimate here matches both state and national benchmarks almost exactly. The challenge is that with only 16% of students receiving Pell grants, this institution serves a relatively affluent population, which may mean less financial aid available for middle-income families who fall just outside Pell eligibility.

The real question is career trajectory. Business associate's degrees often serve as stepping stones—either into the workforce with room to advance, or toward a bachelor's degree. If your child plans to transfer and complete a four-year degree, this could be a cost-effective foundation. If they're entering the job market directly, $35,000 represents an entry-level salary that needs to grow relatively quickly to justify even this modest debt load. The wide range among Washington schools suggests that local job markets and individual program quality matter significantly, though without reported outcomes specific to Everett, you're making this decision with limited visibility into how their particular graduates fare.