Business/Commerce at Grays Harbor College

Business associate's programs in Washington typically produce stronger first-year earnings than the national average, with the state median at $40,588 versus $36,591 nationally. Grays Harbor's estimated figures land right at the national benchmark but trail other Washington community colleges by a few thousand dollars—comparable programs at Tacoma Community College and Clark College report first-year earnings above $40,000. For a student choosing between Washington business programs, this gap matters, though it's worth noting these estimates come from similar programs statewide rather than Grays Harbor's actual graduate outcomes.

The estimated debt load of $11,500 creates a manageable 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly a third of their first-year income. This beats the national median debt of $13,437 and aligns with Washington state norms. For families concerned about borrowing, these numbers suggest reasonable repayment scenarios—though again, these projections are based on peer institutions rather than confirmed data from this specific program.

The practical question is whether an associate's degree that starts around $36,000 meets your family's return-on-investment threshold, particularly when other Washington community colleges appear to place graduates in slightly higher-earning positions. If Grays Harbor offers location advantages or specific industry connections in Aberdeen, the modest debt load keeps risk limited. Otherwise, exploring programs with reported outcomes above $40,000 might yield better returns for the same credential.