Business Administration, Management and Operations at Miller-Motte College-Wilmington

Miller-Motte College-Wilmington graduates earn just $23,907 in their first year—about $11,000 below the North Carolina median for business associate's degrees and roughly $10,000 under the national average. This places the program in the bottom 10% statewide and bottom 5% nationally. Meanwhile, graduates carry $30,649 in debt, more than double the national median for this credential and significantly higher than North Carolina's typical $21,532. For context, nearby North Carolina community colleges produce business graduates earning $38,000-$41,000 annually with substantially less debt.

The math is stark: graduates owe 1.28 times their first-year salary, meaning debt exceeds annual income by 28%. Even after four years, when earnings reach $26,516, the debt burden remains heavy. A student borrowing the median amount would face monthly payments consuming a significant portion of take-home pay at these income levels.

With 65% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a population that can least afford a weak earnings-to-debt outcome. North Carolina's community college system offers the same credential with dramatically better financial results. Unless Miller-Motte provides specific advantages—like evening classes for working adults or particular industry connections—families should strongly consider the state's community college alternatives, where graduates earn 50-70% more while borrowing less.