Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Gateway Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,685

Est. from national median (8 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$18,788

Est. from national median (11 programs)

Analysis

A debt load near $19,000 for a certificate program that leads to roughly $42,000 in first-year earnings isn't catastrophic, but it warrants careful consideration—especially since these figures are estimates drawn from peer programs nationally rather than actual outcomes from Gateway Tech's graduates. The 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable but not negligible repayment pressure for someone just starting a business or working in small business operations.

What makes this challenging to evaluate is that entrepreneurial programs produce wildly varied outcomes depending on what students do after graduation. Similar programs nationally cluster around $42,000 in earnings, but that figure likely captures graduates working for others rather than launching their own ventures. If your child plans to start a business immediately, early income could be much lower—or much higher—than these estimates suggest. The debt becomes more concerning if they're bootstrapping a startup with minimal initial revenue.

The uncertainty here cuts both ways. Gateway Tech may deliver better outcomes than these national estimates suggest, or worse—there's simply no way to know without reported data. What you can determine is whether your child needs this credential at all: many entrepreneurs succeed without formal business certificates, and $19,000 in debt for self-employment skills is a meaningful burden. If they're set on formal training, pressing Gateway Tech's career services for actual placement data and typical graduate paths would be essential before committing.

Where Gateway Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all entrepreneurial and small business operations certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations certificate's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (14 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha	$4,853	$41,685*	—	$18,788*	—
University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee	$10,020	$42,545*	—	$23,397*	0.55
National Median	—	$41,684*	—	$18,788*	0.45

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with entrepreneurial and small business operations graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Personal Service Managers, All Other

All personal service managers not listed separately.

Fitness and Wellness Coordinators

Manage or coordinate fitness and wellness programs and services. Manage and train staff of wellness specialists, health educators, or fitness instructors.

Spa Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of a spa facility. Coordinate programs, schedule and direct staff, and oversee financial activities.

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Operations Managers

Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Gateway Technical College, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 8 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.