Business/Commerce (Associate's Degree) at Moreno Valley College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,591

Est. from national median (124 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$11,000

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Analysis

California community colleges typically serve as affordable launchpads for business careers, and Moreno Valley College appears to follow this pattern based on comparable programs. Similar associate's programs in California suggest first-year earnings around $35,000—not spectacular, but reasonable for a two-year degree—while estimated debt of $11,000 sits comfortably below both state and national medians. That 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio indicates graduates could theoretically clear their loans in under four months of gross pay, which represents manageable financial exposure for an entry credential.

The real question is trajectory. Business associate's degrees often serve as stepping stones rather than destinations—launching points for bachelor's completion or immediate employment while continuing education. Other California programs in this field show wide variation (from $26,000 to over $43,000 first-year earnings), suggesting that individual job market conditions and whether graduates transfer versus enter the workforce matter enormously. With only 20% of students receiving Pell grants, this appears to be a program serving a relatively less economically vulnerable population.

For parents, the estimated numbers suggest modest upfront cost for a credential that opens doors without creating significant debt burden. The key uncertainty is whether your student plans to transfer (making this a cost-effective foundation) or enter the workforce directly (where outcomes will vary considerably based on local opportunities and individual drive).

Where Moreno Valley College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in California (78 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Moreno Valley CollegeMoreno Valley	$1,420	$36,591*	—	$11,000*	—
DeVry University-CaliforniaOntario	$17,488	$43,716*	—	$30,444*	0.70
Victor Valley CollegeVictorville	$1,425	$26,272*	$36,492	$5,250*	0.20
National Median	—	$36,591*	—	$13,437*	0.37

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Moreno Valley College, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 124 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.