Agricultural Business and Management at Joliet Junior College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 suggests manageable borrowing, but the earnings figures here demand scrutiny. National peer programs show first-year earnings around $37,400, yet Illinois programs paint a dramatically different picture—the state median sits at just $22,300. That's a $15,000 gap that could fundamentally alter whether this associate's degree makes financial sense. If Joliet's outcomes track closer to state norms than national ones, graduates could face 18 months of gross earnings to pay off their debt rather than a more comfortable year.

The Illinois agricultural landscape may explain this discrepancy—the state's mix of commodity farming, concentrated animal operations, and food processing creates variable demand for management-level positions. Community colleges typically serve local and regional employers, meaning Joliet graduates are more likely competing in that $22,000 Illinois market than benefiting from higher-paying opportunities captured in national data. With only 23% of students receiving Pell grants, this program may attract students from farming families with existing operations, where the credential supports succession planning rather than entry into the broader job market.

Request actual placement data from Joliet before committing. Where do recent graduates work, and what do they earn? If most stay local and the real number tilts toward that $22,000 state figure rather than the $37,000 national estimate, you're looking at a credential that barely breaks even financially—useful perhaps for family operations, questionable as a standalone workforce entry point.