Business Administration, Management and Operations at Ocean County College

Ocean County College's business management program starts graduates at just $29,330—below both the national and New Jersey medians—but what happens next tells a more interesting story. Four years out, earnings jump 38% to $40,431, vaulting past state and national averages and putting graduates roughly in the middle of the earnings pack for this common degree. That trajectory suggests the program may teach foundational skills that take time to translate into higher-paying roles.

The $11,000 debt load works in graduates' favor here, sitting below both national and state medians for business associate degrees. Even with the modest starting salary, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 is manageable, and as earnings climb into the low $40,000s, the financial picture improves considerably. This isn't a program that will fast-track your child into management, but it offers a relatively low-risk entry point into business careers.

The practical question is whether your child can weather those first few years at below-average pay while building experience. If they're living at home or can supplement income with part-time work, the combination of low debt and strong earnings growth makes this a reasonable path. Students expecting immediate returns should look elsewhere, but for those playing the long game, the numbers ultimately work out.