Business/Commerce at Lakes Region Community College

A debt load of $11,000 for an associate's degree represents a manageable starting point, particularly when paired with first-year earnings that peer business programs suggest hover around $36,600. Nationwide, associate's degrees in business carry a median debt of $13,437, so this estimated figure sits comfortably below that benchmark. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 means graduates would theoretically owe roughly three months' salary—a threshold that typically allows for reasonable repayment without derailing other financial goals.

The challenge with Lakes Region lies in what we don't know. Because the graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes, we're relying entirely on what similar two-year business programs produce nationally. New Hampshire has only three community colleges offering this credential, and none have reported data we can use for comparison. That means there's no local picture of how business associate's degrees perform in New Hampshire's specific job market, which differs substantially from national averages given the state's economy and proximity to Massachusetts employment centers.

For parents, the estimated numbers suggest a reasonable investment if their student plans to work immediately after graduation and the program offers strong employer connections in the Lakes Region. But without confirmed outcomes from this specific school or even neighboring New Hampshire programs, you're betting on Lakes Region matching what typical business programs deliver nationally—a gamble that could pay off but lacks the hard evidence you'd want before committing.