Business Administration, Management and Operations at Indian River State College

Indian River State College's business associate degree shows a puzzling earnings trajectory worth scrutinizing. Based on comparable Florida programs, first-year graduates earn an estimated $39,010—right at the state median—but by year four, actual reported earnings drop to $33,966. This backward slide is unusual and suggests graduates may be taking lower-paying positions as time progresses, or that many leave the field entirely. For context, Florida's business associate programs span an enormous range, from $74,000+ at Embry-Riddle (likely serving military students with existing credentials) down to the mid-$30,000s nationally.

The estimated $14,719 debt load produces a manageable 0.38 ratio to first-year earnings, below both the Florida median ($20,063) and national median ($13,980). That's the encouraging part. But here's the rub: you're borrowing $15,000 for outcomes that, four years in, barely exceed what many Florida community colleges deliver. Programs at Broward and St. Pete deliver $47,000-$50,000 outcomes—that's a $14,000 annual difference. While Indian River serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (33%) who may be starting from different baselines, parents should investigate why earnings decline rather than grow, and whether transferring to complete a bachelor's degree is the implied pathway here. If this is meant as a stepping stone rather than a terminal credential, that changes the calculus entirely.