Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degree) at Odessa College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$44,084

Est. from TX median (69 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$20,912

Est. from TX median (34 programs)

Analysis

Peer business programs in Texas suggest first-year earnings around $44,000 against estimated debt of $21,000—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that falls comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold. For a bachelor's degree from a community college, these projections indicate manageable financial risk, particularly when compared to the Texas median debt of $24,250 for similar programs.

What remains unclear is whether Odessa College's actual outcomes match these state averages. The suppressed data means we don't know if this specific program connects students to Odessa's oil and gas industry or merely produces generic business graduates competing statewide. Similar programs at Texas institutions show dramatic variation—from $44,000 at typical schools to over $70,000 at places like TCU or UT Austin—suggesting that local employer relationships and career services matter enormously in business education.

The estimated numbers suggest reasonable risk if your child stays local after graduation and enters the workforce immediately. However, without actual outcomes data, you're essentially betting that Odessa College performs at least as well as the average Texas business program. If your child might need to relocate for work or plans graduate school, the lack of verifiable placement success becomes a more significant concern.

Where Odessa College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Business Administration, Management and Operations bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (94 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Odessa CollegeOdessa	$2,640	$44,084*	—	$20,912*	—
Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth	$57,220	$71,984*	$93,488	$25,000*	0.35
The University of Texas at AustinAustin	$11,678	$66,289*	$79,482	$20,750*	0.31
LeTourneau UniversityLongview	$35,500	$65,144*	$63,561	$39,668*	0.61
Baylor UniversityWaco	$54,844	$63,438*	$69,489	$22,866*	0.36
Southern Methodist UniversityDallas	$64,460	$60,659*	$105,314	$19,500*	0.32
National Median	—	$45,703*	—	$26,000*	0.57

* 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 Odessa College, approximately 26% 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 69 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.