Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degree) at Northland Pioneer College

Est. Earnings (1yr)Estimated

$42,749

Est. from AZ median (5 programs)

Est. Median DebtEstimated

$8,917

Est. from AZ median (3 programs)

Based on U.S. Department of Education data (October 2025 release). Some figures are estimates based on similar programs — see details below.

Analysis

Business associate's degrees across Arizona vary wildly in cost, with typical debt loads around $24,000, but Northland Pioneer's estimated $8,900 debt burden is substantially lower than state peers. Based on comparable programs in Arizona, first-year earnings around $43,000 would put this squarely in the middle of the pack for the state—well ahead of the $34,000 national median for business associate's degrees. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 suggests manageable repayment, though remember these figures are drawn from similar programs statewide, not Northland Pioneer's actual graduate outcomes.

The main uncertainty here is whether this specific program delivers on those Arizona-level earnings or falls short. Phoenix College reports substantially higher earnings at $56,000, while American InterContinental shows just $30,000—a gap of nearly $26,000 annually for similar credentials in the same state. What you're getting is a low-cost entry point into business education without the debt burden that makes weaker outcomes financially ruinous. If your student thrives and lands near the state median, they'll have breathing room most business associate's degree holders lack. If earnings disappoint, at least they won't be drowning in payments—a hedge that matters given how wide the range of outcomes appears to be for this credential in Arizona.

Where Northland Pioneer College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Arizona

Business Administration, Management and Operations associates's programs at peer institutions in Arizona (27 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Northland Pioneer CollegeHolbrook	$2,428	$42,749*	—	$8,917*	—
Phoenix CollegePhoenix	$2,358	$56,057*	$51,053	$11,500*	0.21
University of Phoenix-ArizonaPhoenix	$9,552	$43,227*	$45,800	$25,250*	0.58
Brookline College-PhoenixPhoenix	—	$42,749*	$33,784	$24,431*	0.57
Brookline College-TucsonTucson	—	$42,749*	$33,784	$24,431*	0.57
American InterContinental University SystemChandler	$12,310	$29,996*	$33,289	$27,875*	0.93
National Median	—	$33,977*	—	$13,980*	0.41

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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

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 Northland Pioneer College, approximately 14% 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 median of 5 similar programs in AZ. Actual outcomes may vary.