Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Greenville Technical College
Associate's Degree
gvltec.eduAnalysis
Greenville Technical College's Business Operations program shows first-year graduates earning well—$35,672 puts them in the top 20% among similar South Carolina programs. The concern? Earnings drop sharply to $27,956 by year four, a 22% decline that's unusual for any career path. The debt load of $31,500 is also higher than typical for community college programs, nearly double the state median of $18,195.
The small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates in this dataset, these numbers might reflect just a few students' experiences rather than a reliable pattern. That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 means graduates start with debt nearly equal to their first-year salary—manageable initially, but the earnings decline makes repayment tougher over time. For context, similar programs at Tri-County and Piedmont Technical College show more stable earnings trajectories with substantially less debt.
If your child is considering this program, the high debt relative to other South Carolina community colleges should prompt questions about financial aid packaging and whether they can minimize borrowing. The earnings decline could reflect graduates moving into part-time work or career changes, but without knowing why, it's hard to assess whether this pattern would apply to your student.
Where Greenville Technical College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all business operations support and assistant services associates's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Greenville Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville Technical College | $35,672 | $27,956 | -22% |
| Northwood Technical College | $27,494 | $37,335 | +36% |
| Spartanburg Community College | $25,548 | $34,177 | +34% |
| Piedmont Technical College | $27,024 | $31,485 | +17% |
| Tri-County Technical College | $28,319 | $26,811 | -5% |
Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services associates's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (17 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,639 | $35,672 | $27,956 | $31,500 | 0.88 | |
| $4,448 | $28,319 | $26,811 | $11,550 | 0.41 | |
| $4,775 | $27,024 | $31,485 | $19,750 | 0.73 | |
| $5,046 | $25,548 | $34,177 | — | — | |
| National Median | — | $28,691 | — | $20,000 | 0.70 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with business operations support and assistant services graduates
Procurement Clerks
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Correspondence Clerks
File Clerks
Order Clerks
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
Office Clerks, General
Customer Service Representatives
Receptionists and Information Clerks
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 Greenville Technical College, approximately 33% 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.
Sample Size: Based on 22 graduates with reported earnings and 27 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.