Business/Commerce (Associate's Degree) at Harford Community College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,801

Est. from MD median (5 programs)

Median Debt

$10,750

20% below national median

Analysis

Similar business programs across Maryland suggest first-year earnings around $36,800 for this associate degree, but Harford's actual graduates see their income jump significantly to $60,910 by year four—a trajectory that's confirmed and unusually strong for a community college business program. While the initial earnings estimate comes from peer Maryland programs (we don't have Harford's own first-year numbers due to small sample sizes), that four-year figure is real data from this school's graduates.

The $10,750 debt load sits below both the state and national medians for business associate degrees, making the financial equation more favorable. Even using the conservative estimated starting salary, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29, meaning the debt represents less than four months of first-year income. Given that many Maryland business associate programs produce initial salaries in the $30-44,000 range, Harford's position in the middle of that pack seems reasonable, and the confirmed earnings growth by year four suggests graduates are gaining traction in their careers.

The uncertainty here is whether Harford's own first-year outcomes match the state average or differ meaningfully from it. But the confirmed mid-career earnings data shows this program produces results that matter most—graduates who see substantial income growth within four years of completing a relatively affordable credential.

Where Harford Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Harford Community College	—	$60,910	—
Montgomery College	$29,449	$51,009	+73%
Strayer University-Maryland	$44,154	$47,516	+8%
Community College of Baltimore County	$36,801	$44,670	+21%
Hagerstown Community College	$41,970	$44,478	+6%

Compare to Similar Programs in Maryland

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in Maryland (17 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Harford Community CollegeBel Air	$3,974	$36,801*	$60,910	$10,750	—
Strayer University-MarylandSuitland	$13,920	$44,154*	$47,516	$32,810	0.74
Hagerstown Community CollegeHagerstown	$4,320	$41,970*	$44,478	$12,750	0.30
Community College of Baltimore CountyBaltimore	$4,380	$36,801*	$44,670	$17,499	0.48
Frederick Community CollegeFrederick	$3,772	$33,619*	$42,863	$7,062	0.21
Montgomery CollegeRockville	$5,394	$29,449*	$51,009	$9,250	0.31
National Median	—	$36,591*	—	$13,437	0.37

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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

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 Harford Community 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 median of 5 similar programs in MD. Actual outcomes may vary.