Business Administration, Management and Operations at Kellogg Community College

The reported $26,593 in fourth-year earnings tells a troubling story that should concern any parent considering this program. While similar Michigan business programs suggest first-year earnings around $34,800, this school's graduates appear to see their income drop significantly over time rather than grow—the opposite trajectory you'd expect from a career-building degree. Even that initial estimate would put graduates barely above Michigan's typical starting point for this credential, and well behind the state's stronger programs where students commonly earn over $41,000.

The $17,012 in debt sits slightly above both state and national medians for business associate's degrees, which wouldn't be alarming if earnings held steady or improved. But paired with that fourth-year earnings decline, it creates a financial puzzle: graduates would be making debt payments while their earning power apparently weakens. This pattern is unusual enough that it raises questions about whether graduates are finding work that uses their business training, or whether they're stuck in positions that don't leverage the credential.

For a family weighing this investment, the fourth-year earnings figure is the red flag that demands explanation. Before committing, you need to understand why this program's outcomes appear to diverge so dramatically from both the estimated starting point and the trajectory seen at comparable Michigan community colleges. That $26,593 figure, if representative, suggests something isn't translating from classroom to career in the way it should.