Business Administration, Management and Operations at Ogden-Weber Technical College

A business certificate that typically costs $14,816 in loans for first-year earnings around $39,000 creates a manageable but modest financial picture. Peer programs across 1,012 institutions nationally suggest this credential produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with about five months of gross income. That's reasonable compared to many certificate programs, though it's worth noting that the low Pell grant rate (11%) suggests most students here may have alternative funding sources or minimal borrowing needs.

The challenge is whether this particular path at Ogden-Weber delivers better outcomes than the national baseline. With no reported data from Utah's 10 business certificate programs to compare against, you're essentially betting on whether a technical college credential in a competitive field will open doors locally. Business certificates can provide quick entry into administrative, operations, or supervisory roles, but they rarely command premium wages without prior experience or additional credentials. Similar programs nationally cluster around $39,000-$47,000 in first-year earnings, suggesting modest upside even for top performers.

For parents, the key question is opportunity cost: could your student earn similar wages without the debt by entering the workforce directly, or does this credential provide specific skills or credentialing that local employers value? Without school-specific outcomes to verify the program's track record, you're making an informed guess rather than an evidence-based investment.