Business/Commerce at Saint Louis Community College

Saint Louis Community College's business program delivers exactly what you'd expect from a community college: manageable debt with modest but stable earnings. At $11,000 in student loans—less than half the Missouri median—graduates leave with minimal financial burden. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 means first-year salary covers the debt three times over, making this one of the more affordable paths into business.

The earnings tell a more nuanced story. While $34,419 sits slightly below the national median, it's right at Missouri's state median, meaning this program performs respectably within its local context. That 60th percentile state ranking matters: graduates here earn more than most associate business programs in Missouri, though they're trailing schools like Columbia College. For a two-year degree with such low debt, these earnings provide decent immediate returns.

The caveat: we're working with a small sample size, so individual outcomes may vary more than these numbers suggest. Still, for Missouri families looking at affordable business credentials, this represents a low-risk entry point. Your child won't graduate with life-altering debt, and the earnings—while not impressive—are sufficient to begin building a career or potentially transfer to a four-year program without financial strain. The real question is whether they'll leverage this as a stepping stone or a destination.