Business Administration, Management and Operations at Herzing University-Tampa

Herzing University-Tampa graduates start at $30,536—about $8,500 below Florida's median for associate's-level business programs and in just the 25th percentile statewide. That earnings gap persists even after four years, when graduates reach $37,295, still trailing what most Florida community colleges deliver from day one. Students at nearby St. Petersburg College, for instance, earn $47,669 right out of the gate with similar associate's degrees in business.

The cost structure makes this particularly difficult to justify. At nearly $39,000 in debt—almost double Florida's typical debt load for this degree and among the highest 5% nationally—graduates face a 1.27 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means owing more than a full year's salary, which makes standard loan repayment challenging on a $30,000 starting wage. Community colleges across Florida consistently deliver better outcomes with dramatically less debt.

For families considering business programs in Tampa, the public college route offers substantially better value. This program's combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt creates financial pressure that many associate's degree holders struggle to manage, especially when stronger alternatives exist locally.