Agricultural Business and Management at Frank Phillips College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 suggests manageable borrowing, especially for an associate's degree in agriculture—a field where hands-on skills and local connections often matter more than credential prestige. Based on comparable agricultural business programs nationwide, graduates typically earn around $37,400 in their first year, with debt averaging just under $12,000. For a two-year degree, that's a reasonable exchange, particularly in rural Texas where agricultural operations remain a primary employer.

The challenge is understanding what this estimate actually reflects for Frank Phillips graduates specifically. The college serves the Texas Panhandle, where cattle ranching, feedlots, and agricultural services dominate—sectors with their own wage scales and hiring patterns. National peer programs include everything from dairy operations in Wisconsin to row-crop farming in Iowa, which may or may not mirror Borger's agricultural economy. The estimate provides a starting point, but local job prospects in your area will drive actual outcomes more than any national median.

For families in Texas's agricultural regions, this program makes practical sense if your student already has farm or ranch connections and needs formal business training to manage operations more effectively. The low estimated debt burden means the degree won't constrain future decisions. However, if your student lacks ties to local agriculture, investigate whether Frank Phillips maintains employer partnerships in the Panhandle that could lead to internships or placement—that local network matters far more than these estimated figures suggest.