Business Administration, Management and Operations at Finger Lakes Community College

Finger Lakes Community College's business program sits in an interesting middle ground—it trails the national median by about $2,200 annually but actually outperforms most New York programs, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. Given that many associate's degree holders in business administration earn around $30,000 starting out, these outcomes are reasonably competitive, especially within a state where this program's median is notably lower than the national figure.

The $12,000 debt load translates to roughly 0.38 times first-year earnings, which is manageable territory for an associate's degree. With earnings climbing 13% by year four to nearly $36,000, graduates show solid early career momentum. That said, there's a meaningful gap between this program and top-performing SUNY community colleges like Hudson Valley ($38,000) and Monroe ($36,500), suggesting students might want to weigh location against potential earnings differences.

For families prioritizing affordability and staying in upstate New York, this program delivers decent value—the debt burden is reasonable and earnings trajectory is positive. However, if your student can commute to one of the stronger SUNY community colleges without significantly higher costs, those extra few thousand dollars annually could add up to $20,000+ over a decade.