Business Administration, Management and Operations at Green River College

In Washington state, business bachelor's programs show a surprisingly wide range of outcomes—from roughly $49,000 to nearly $80,000 in first-year earnings. Green River College's program appears positioned near the middle of this range based on typical outcomes from similar Washington business programs, which suggests moderate earning potential rather than breakthrough returns.

The estimated debt load of $16,188 creates a manageable 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below both the state median of $21,000 and the national figure of $26,000. For context, programs at Northwest University and Western Washington University—both producing earnings in the low-to-mid $50,000s—often come with higher debt burdens. If Green River's estimates hold true, your child would be borrowing considerably less to reach roughly median outcomes for Washington business grads.

The practical question is whether $49,000 in first-year earnings justifies four years of study, even with modest debt. That figure tracks closely with the national median for business bachelor's degrees, which means this program appears neither particularly strong nor weak compared to the broader landscape. The lower debt estimate offers some cushion, but you're essentially betting on peer program performance rather than Green River's demonstrated track record. If your child has admission offers from schools with actual reported data—particularly those showing earnings above $54,000—those programs would let you make decisions with more certainty about what graduates actually earn.