Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,843
Est. from FL median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$13,821
Est. from FL median (5 programs)

Analysis

An undergraduate certificate in business administration from Northwest Florida State College carries an estimated $13,821 in debtβ€”a modest burden that becomes manageable when stacked against the projected $36,843 first-year salary based on similar Florida programs. That 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could realistically pay off their loans within their first year or two of work, assuming focused repayment.

The estimated earnings align precisely with Florida's median for this credential, though they trail the national benchmark of $39,085 by about 6%. Florida State College at Jacksonville's reported outcomes of $44,902 show what's possible at the higher end within the state, while Miami Dade College's $32,338 marks the lower boundary among comparable programs. Northwest Florida State College appears positioned in the middle of this range, though without program-specific data, it's impossible to know whether graduates here perform better or worse than these peer averages.

For parents weighing this investment, the appeal comes down to efficiency: a short-term certificate that doesn't burden students with heavy debt while potentially opening doors to entry-level business roles. The risk is that these estimated figures might not reflect this specific program's placement success or the local job market in the Florida Panhandle. Before committing, verify what types of positions recent completers have actually secured and whether those jobs align with your student's goals.

Where Northwest Florida State College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

Business Administration, Management and Operations certificate's programs at peer institutions in Florida (53 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Northwest Florida State CollegeNiceville$3,246$36,843*β€”$13,821*β€”
Florida State College at JacksonvilleJacksonville$2,878$44,902*β€”$17,134*0.38
Hillsborough Community CollegeTampa$2,506$37,006*β€”$14,933*0.40
Daytona State CollegeDaytona Beach$3,106$36,843*β€”$13,821*0.38
Full Sail UniversityWinter Park$26,417$35,779*β€”β€”*β€”
Miami Dade CollegeMiami$2,838$32,338*β€”$8,750*0.27
National Medianβ€”$39,085*β€”$14,699*0.38
* 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 Northwest Florida State College, approximately 22% 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 FL. Actual outcomes may vary.