Business Administration, Management and Operations at San Antonio College

San Antonio College's associate degree in business administration costs students roughly $10,300 in debt—about 36% less than the typical Texas program in this field. With first-year earnings of $35,500, graduates are paying back about 30 cents in debt for every dollar earned, a manageable ratio that ranks this program in the 60th percentile among Texas business programs. The bigger question is whether those earnings justify two years of opportunity cost when graduates could be working full-time instead.

The earnings trajectory offers some reassurance: graduates see 14% income growth by year four, reaching just over $40,500. That's solid progress, though it's worth noting that top-tier Texas programs like Tarrant County College District and Dallas College place graduates at $42,000-$44,000 right out of the gate. Still, San Antonio College beats the state median by about $2,700 annually while keeping debt substantially lower than competitors.

For a family focused on minimizing financial risk while earning a credential, this program delivers—you're getting near-median performance at well-below-median cost. The debt burden won't be crushing, and graduates are seeing real wage growth in their early career. Just understand you're trading some earning potential for financial safety compared to the highest-performing Texas community colleges.