Location: Rice Lake, WI•In-State Tuition: $4,524•Out-of-State Tuition: $6,583
Median Earnings (1yr)
$27,494
26th percentile
40th percentile in Wisconsin
Median Debt
$16,500
18% below national median
D/E Ratio: 0.60 ManageableSample: 21 graduates Limited data

Analysis

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.

Where Northwood Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business operations support and assistant services associates's programs nationally

Northwood Technical CollegeOther business operations support and assistant services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Northwood Technical College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Northwood Technical College earns $27k — 26th percentile among business operations support and assistant services associates programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Northwood Technical College$27,494$37,335+36%
Fox College$34,923$36,377+4%
Trinity Valley Community College$34,123$35,624+4%
Chippewa Valley Technical College$36,178$34,537-5%
Gateway Technical College$28,779$32,675+14%

Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake$4,524$27,494$37,335$16,5000.60
Chippewa Valley Technical CollegeEau Claire$4,724$36,178$34,537$22,6500.63
Gateway Technical CollegeKenosha$4,853$28,779$32,675$19,0000.66
Madison Area Technical CollegeMadison$4,780$27,467———
National Median—$28,691—$20,0000.70

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business operations support and assistant services graduates

Procurement Clerks

Compile information and records to draw up purchase orders for procurement of materials and services.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks

Process new insurance policies, modifications to existing policies, and claims forms. Obtain information from policyholders to verify the accuracy and completeness of information on claims forms, applications and related documents, and company records. Update existing policies and company records to reflect changes requested by policyholders and insurance company representatives.

$48,650/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

Provide high-level administrative support by conducting research, preparing statistical reports, and handling information requests, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. May also train and supervise lower-level clerical staff.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive

Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

$47,460/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.

$46,120/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Correspondence Clerks

Compose letters or electronic correspondence in reply to requests for merchandise, damage claims, credit and other information, delinquent accounts, incorrect billings, or unsatisfactory services. Duties may include gathering data to formulate reply and preparing correspondence.

$43,730/yrJobs growth:

File Clerks

File correspondence, cards, invoices, receipts, and other records in alphabetical or numerical order or according to the filing system used. Locate and remove material from file when requested.

$43,730/yrJobs growth:

Order Clerks

Receive and process incoming orders for materials, merchandise, classified ads, or services such as repairs, installations, or rental of facilities. Generally receives orders via mail, phone, fax, or other electronic means. Duties include informing customers of receipt, prices, shipping dates, and delays; preparing contracts; and handling complaints.

$43,730/yrJobs growth:

Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping

Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.

$43,730/yrJobs growth:

Office Clerks, General

Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

$43,630/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Customer Service Representatives

Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.

$42,830/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent

Receptionists and Information Clerks

Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

$37,230/yrJobs growth:High school diploma or equivalent
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 Northwood Technical College, approximately 30% 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.