Business Administration, Management and Operations at Monroe County Community College

Monroe County Community College's business administration associate degree produces first-year earnings about $7,000 below the Michigan median for this program, placing it in just the 25th percentile statewide. That gap is significant when you're comparing $27,663 to what graduates earn at places like Macomb ($43,491) or Lansing ($43,026) community colleges—nearby schools with similar tuition structures. The earnings picture does improve substantially by year four, reaching $36,404, but that's still starting from a notably low baseline.

The debt load of $13,443 is reasonable and typical for this type of program, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. The question isn't whether the debt is too high—it's whether these particular earnings outcomes justify even that moderate borrowing. With only a small sample of graduates to draw from, these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern of underperformance relative to other Michigan community colleges is clear enough to warrant attention.

If your child is set on business administration and you're in the Monroe area, it's worth asking whether nearby alternatives might offer better employment connections or placement support. The strong earnings growth suggests graduates do find their footing eventually, but starting nearly 20% below the state median puts them at a competitive disadvantage right out of the gate.