Business Administration, Management and Operations at Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls

Something troubling emerges in the four-year earnings data for this program: while similar business administration associate's programs in Ohio suggest first-year earnings around $37,000, graduates here report making just $28,497 four years into their careers. That's a backward trajectory that defies how career earnings typically progress, and it falls well short of what comparable programs across the state deliver—the top Ohio programs report graduates earning $45,000 or more.

The estimated debt load of roughly $25,500 compounds the concern. That's 83% higher than Ohio's typical debt for this credential and nearly double the national benchmark of $14,000. For a school serving a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (76%), this debt burden paired with stagnant earnings creates genuine financial stress. The debt-to-earnings ratio might look manageable on paper at 0.69, but that calculation uses the estimated first-year figure—not the actual $28,497 graduates are reporting years later.

Before committing to this program, you need to understand why four-year earnings lag so dramatically behind state peers. Community colleges like Sinclair and Cincinnati State are producing graduates who earn 60% more, often with less debt. The limited data here (leading to suppressed figures) may reflect enrollment challenges, but the actual earnings outcome that is reported should give any family pause about the return on this investment.