Business Administration, Management and Operations at Florida SouthWestern State College

Florida SouthWestern's Business Administration associate degree comes with an estimated $9,977 in debt—about half the state median and well below the national figure. That's genuinely low. Based on comparable business programs in Florida, first-year earnings around $39,000 suggest graduates reach the state median immediately, which makes sense given business administration's direct path to employment. By year four, the $43,564 median shows modest but real progression. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 means most graduates could realistically pay off their loans within a year or two of full-time work.

The uncertainty here matters: first-year earnings are estimated from 18 peer programs across Florida because this specific program's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish. What we know for certain is the four-year earnings figure and that graduates leave with significantly less debt than peers statewide. For context, Florida's top business associate programs at schools like Broward College or St. Petersburg College produce substantially higher earnings ($47,000-$50,000), though those institutions may attract different student populations or have stronger industry connections.

For a family weighing a two-year business degree in Southwest Florida, the low debt load makes this a relatively low-risk option. You're not betting big money on whether your child will land in management versus administrative support. The question is whether the regional job market will support earnings closer to $39,000 or something lower—and whether starting with this associate degree makes sense versus transferring to complete a bachelor's later.