Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Houston Community College

Houston Community College's business operations program sits in an uncomfortable position: it outperforms most programs nationally but carries debt nearly double the Texas median of $25,314. That $37,503 debt load against $35,300 in first-year earnings creates a debt-to-earnings ratio just over 1:1—manageable but tight for an associate degree in business support roles.

The earnings picture tells a contradictory story. At the 95th percentile nationally, this program looks exceptional compared to the typical $28,691 median. But zoom into Texas, where this program lands at the 60th percentile, and you're paying premium debt for middle-of-the-pack earnings. Trinity Valley Community College produces nearly identical earnings outcomes ($34,123) likely at far lower cost. That debt differential matters enormously when you're earning $35,000 and making loan payments.

The real caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means one outlier can skew the entire picture. These numbers might not reflect what your child would actually experience. If this debt figure is accurate and not an anomaly, you'd want a compelling reason to choose HCC over less expensive Texas alternatives that produce similar earnings. The program isn't a disaster—graduates do find work—but the financial structure deserves scrutiny before committing.