Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Ohio Business College-Sandusky
Associate's Degree
ohiobusinesscollege.eduAnalysis
This program carries significant financial risk that demands serious scrutiny. Graduates leave with $31,683 in debt—58% higher than the national median for this field—yet earn just $22,925 in their first year. That debt burden would take a graduate earning every penny (pre-tax) more than a year to repay, and the trajectory gets worse from there: by year four, median earnings drop to $19,174, putting graduates below full-time minimum wage in many states.
The state context offers little comfort. While this program sits at the 60th percentile among Ohio's business operations programs, that's largely because Ohio's programs in this field struggle overall—the state median matches this school's first-year earnings exactly. Nationally, these graduates rank in just the 10th percentile for earnings, meaning 90% of similar programs produce better outcomes. The exceptionally high debt (5th percentile nationally) makes the value equation even more troubling.
The sample size here is small, so individual circumstances vary widely. However, with 84% of students receiving Pell grants, this program appears to serve a predominantly low-income population who can least afford a degree that leads to declining earnings and outsized debt. Unless your child has guarantees of specific employer connections or family business opportunities, this investment doesn't add up. Two years at community college leading to either workforce entry or transfer to a four-year program would likely deliver better returns with less financial risk.
Where Ohio Business College-Sandusky Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all business operations support and assistant services associates's programs nationally
Earnings Distribution
How Ohio Business College-Sandusky graduates compare to all programs nationally
Earnings Over Time
How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation
| School | 1 Year | 4 Years | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio Business College-Sandusky | $22,925 | $19,174 | -16% |
| Northwood Technical College | $27,494 | $37,335 | +36% |
| Fox College | $34,923 | $36,377 | +4% |
| Trinity Valley Community College | $34,123 | $35,624 | +4% |
| Ohio Business College-Sheffield | $22,925 | $19,174 | -16% |
Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio
Business Operations Support and Assistant Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (42 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $9,385 | $22,925 | $19,174 | $31,683 | 1.38 | |
| $9,385 | $22,925 | $19,174 | $31,683 | 1.38 | |
| National Median | — | $28,691 | — | $20,000 | 0.70 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with business operations support and assistant services graduates
Procurement Clerks
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks
Correspondence Clerks
File Clerks
Order Clerks
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
Office Clerks, General
Customer Service Representatives
Receptionists and Information Clerks
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 Ohio Business College-Sandusky, approximately 84% 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.