Business Administration, Management and Operations at Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Tech is best known for engineering and aerospace, not associate degrees in business, and the limited data here reflects how few students pursue this path. Based on comparable business associate programs across Florida, graduates might expect around $39,000 in first-year earnings—right at the state median—while carrying an estimated $32,652 in debt. That's more than double the national median debt for this credential and roughly $12,000 above what students typically borrow at other Florida schools offering the same degree.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.84 means nearly a full year's salary would go toward repaying loans, which is high for an associate degree. For context, students at Florida's community colleges offering identical business associate programs often emerge with half the debt and similar or better earnings. Broward College and St. Petersburg College graduates, for instance, report first-year earnings in the $47,000-$50,000 range with considerably less borrowing. Florida Tech's private university price tag doesn't appear to translate into premium outcomes for this particular program.

If your child is set on Florida Tech for its engineering or aviation programs, that's one conversation. But for a business associate degree, the estimated debt burden here warrants serious scrutiny. Florida's community colleges and regional universities offer more established pathways in this field with far more favorable financial profiles. Unless there's a compelling reason to choose this specific program at this school, more affordable alternatives would likely serve your student better.