Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Northwood Technical College

Northwood Technical College's Business Operations program starts graduates below what you'd expect—$27,494 in the first year places this in just the 40th percentile among Wisconsin's 21 programs offering this degree. That's roughly $9,000 less than what graduates from Chippewa Valley Technical College earn right out of the gate. The $16,500 debt load is actually lower than both state and national averages, which provides some cushion, but you're still looking at more than seven months of earnings to pay it off initially.

The positive story here is the trajectory: earnings jump 36% by year four to $37,335, which exceeds the state median and suggests graduates find their footing over time. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could swing considerably with just a few different career paths. If your student ends up among the lower earners, that first-year salary could make loan payments feel tight.

The bottom line: This program costs less than competitors and shows decent earning potential after a few years, but the weak starting position matters if your child needs to begin repaying loans immediately. If they can manage the initial earnings gap—perhaps by living at home or working part-time—the four-year outlook becomes more reasonable. Just remember these numbers come from a very small group of graduates.