Business/Commerce at Lackawanna College

Based on comparable programs in Pennsylvania, business associate's graduates typically earn around $36,000 in their first year—right at the state median but trailing the stronger community college programs by $10,000 or more. What complicates the picture here is that earnings actually *drop* to $34,371 by year four, suggesting this credential may not build momentum the way you'd hope. That backward slide raises questions about whether these graduates are landing jobs with growth potential or getting stuck in entry-level roles.

The $16,000 in debt sits above both state and national medians for this program type, though the 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio keeps it manageable—you'd be looking at monthly payments around 8-10% of typical starting income. For a school serving 58% Pell students, that debt load matters more than it might elsewhere. Programs like Lehigh Carbon Community College show what's possible when business associate's degrees connect to better regional job networks, with first-year earnings of $47,000.

The real concern is paying above-average debt for below-average earnings trajectory, particularly when the four-year number dips rather than rises. If your child is set on Lackawanna for location or other practical reasons, push hard on internship placements and employer relationships—those connections matter more than the degree itself in getting past that $34,000 ceiling.