Business Administration, Management and Operations at Pierce College District

Based on comparable community college business programs in Washington, Pierce College District students might expect to earn around $35,000 in their first year and carry roughly $16,000 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46 falls within a manageable range—considerably better than the typical bachelor's degree—though the small sample size that triggered data suppression means we're working with estimates rather than verified outcomes from Pierce graduates specifically.

The estimated earnings align almost perfectly with Washington's median for associate-level business programs, suggesting this program would track with state norms. However, the range among similar programs in Washington is striking: Columbia Basin College graduates earn $42,000 while Tacoma Community College grads start at just $20,000. These differences likely reflect local job markets and the specific business skills each program emphasizes, factors that matter more than the credential itself.

For families considering Pierce, the challenge is that we don't know where on that spectrum this program actually lands. The debt figure seems reasonable for an associate degree, and business administration offers flexibility across industries. But without concrete data on Pierce's own graduates, you're betting on the program performing at least as well as the state average—a bet that feels riskier when peers like Columbia Basin demonstrate significantly stronger outcomes just a few hours away.