Business Administration, Management and Operations at Parkland College

Four years out, Parkland graduates are earning just over $43,000—right at the state median for business associate programs but well above the national average of $34,000. While first-year figures are estimated from similar Illinois programs, the actual reported fourth-year earnings suggest these graduates land in decent-paying administrative and management roles fairly quickly. The estimated debt load of $12,000 translates to a 0.27 ratio against first-year income, meaning graduates would owe roughly three months' salary—a manageable starting point for most families.

The challenge is upward mobility. Earnings appear essentially flat between year one and year four, which is unusual for business programs where skills and networking typically drive meaningful salary growth. Compare this to Harper College graduates who earn nearly $60,000, or even College of DuPage at $46,500. The lack of actual data from Parkland itself (sample sizes were too small to report) makes it harder to know whether their specific program connects students to the local Champaign market effectively or prepares them differently than peer schools.

For families weighing this investment: the debt-to-earnings picture looks reasonable on paper, but the stagnant earning trajectory and significant gap between Parkland's outcomes and top Illinois programs warrant deeper investigation. Ask the school directly about job placement rates, employer partnerships, and whether their business curriculum includes pathways to higher-earning roles or bachelor's degree transfer options.