Business/Commerce at Northern Virginia Community College

At $11,000 in estimated debt, this associate degree appears positioned as one of the more affordable business programs in Virginia, where peer programs typically saddle graduates with median debt of $28,416. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.25 suggests manageable repayment, though both figures are estimates drawn from similar programs rather than tracked outcomes from NOVA's own graduates.

The estimated first-year earnings of $43,425 align with what comparable Virginia business programs produce—roughly matching Liberty University and Strayer University outcomes while significantly outpacing Bryant & Stratton's $30,059. This places the program slightly above the national median of $36,591, though it's worth noting that Virginia's business job market may be inflating these figures compared to other states. The real question is whether Northern Virginia's higher cost of living erodes the apparent earnings advantage.

The low estimated debt makes this program worth serious consideration, particularly if your child can commute and minimize additional borrowing. However, the lack of actual outcome data for NOVA's business graduates means you're making this decision somewhat blind. If possible, contact the school directly to ask about their typical graduate employment and starting salaries—that concrete information could either validate these promising estimates or reveal a more complicated reality.