Business Administration, Management and Operations at Mid-State Technical College

Mid-State Technical College's business management associate's produces an unusual earnings pattern that requires careful interpretation—especially given the small graduate pool. Students start strong at $47,268 in their first year, well above both the state median ($40,482) and national average ($33,977). However, four years out, earnings drop to $38,544, an 18% decline that's hard to explain and may reflect the program's tiny sample size more than any real trajectory.

The 60th percentile ranking within Wisconsin is respectable but not exceptional—several Wisconsin technical colleges produce higher earners, with Moraine Park and Waukesha County graduates earning in the mid-$40,000s consistently. The $16,044 debt load is reasonable and typical for Wisconsin programs in this field, resulting in a comfortable 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio based on first-year income.

That declining earnings trend is the red flag here, though it's worth remembering this reflects fewer than 30 graduates. This could mean anything from career changes to part-time work to statistical noise. For parents, the first-year outcomes look solid—graduates leave debt they can manage with strong initial salaries. But without more graduate data, it's impossible to know if that early success is sustainable or representative. If your student is set on Mid-State for location or program fit, the numbers aren't alarming, but stronger options exist elsewhere in Wisconsin's technical college system.