Business/Commerce at Mount Wachusett Community College

Mount Wachusett's business associate graduates earn $42,825 in their first year—solidly above both the national median ($36,591) and Massachusetts median ($39,216) for this program. At just $9,250 in debt, the numbers pencil out favorably: you're borrowing roughly 2.5 months' worth of first-year salary, about half what students typically take on nationally. That's a meaningful difference when you're starting your career, giving graduates more financial breathing room to build savings or pursue further education.

The earnings trajectory looks healthy too, climbing 23% to reach nearly $53,000 by year four. Among Massachusetts community colleges offering business programs, this ranks near the top—only Quinsigamond edges it out slightly. The caveat here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift somewhat with a larger cohort, particularly the debt figure which matches the state median exactly.

For a two-year degree that costs under $10,000 in loans and delivers above-average earning power in a high-cost state like Massachusetts, this represents a solid foundation. The low debt burden means your child could comfortably transition into a four-year program if they want the bachelor's later, or start working immediately without financial pressure. Just recognize these figures come from a small sample, so individual outcomes may vary more than at larger programs.