Business Administration, Management and Operations at Renton Technical College

In Washington, business administration associate's programs show considerable range—from $42,000 at Columbia Basin College down to $20,000 at Tacoma Community College. Based on comparable programs in the state, Renton Technical's business administration associate's degree suggests first-year earnings around $35,000, landing squarely in the middle of that pack and closely matching both state and national medians for this credential.

The estimated debt load of $16,000 translates to a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary. That's a reasonable starting point for an associate's degree, particularly compared to the national median debt of about $14,000 for this program. Washington's technical colleges generally carry slightly higher debt than the national average, so this figure isn't unusual for the region.

The challenge here is that these figures come from peer programs rather than Renton's own graduate outcomes, so parents are making decisions with limited visibility into this specific program's track record. Still, the estimated numbers suggest a workable value proposition if your student needs the credential for entry-level business roles. Just recognize that the real earnings potential will depend heavily on the specific career path and employer—business administration is broad, and not all paths pay the same.