Business Administration, Management and Operations at Olympic College

Similar business programs across Washington suggest Olympic College's associate degree lands students near the state median—estimated around $35,000 in first-year earnings based on four comparable programs, rising to nearly $40,000 by year four. With estimated debt around $16,000, graduates would face manageable payments of roughly $180 monthly, consuming about 6% of their gross income. That's a reasonable burden compared to many associate degrees, though it's worth noting that business administration outcomes vary widely depending on which employer hires you and what specific role you land.

The challenge with this program is uncertainty. Olympic's graduate sample is too small for the Department of Education to publish actual outcomes, so we're extrapolating from peers—some of which produce dramatically different results. Columbia Basin College's business grads earn $42,000, while Tacoma Community College's earn just $20,000. Where Olympic falls in that range matters enormously for whether the degree pays off.

For families considering this program, the estimated debt-to-earnings picture suggests a workable investment if outcomes match peer schools. But given the wide variation among Washington business programs, you'll want concrete evidence about Olympic's specific employer connections, internship placements, and graduate outcomes before committing. The numbers look reasonable on paper, but they're educated guesses rather than this program's track record.