Business Administration, Management and Operations at Seattle Central College

Peer programs in Washington suggest this associate's degree produces first-year earnings around $35,000—squarely in line with both state and national medians for business management programs at this level. That's functional income for a two-year credential, though it trails what students earn at Columbia Basin College and Perry Technical Institute, where similar programs place graduates in the low $40,000s and high $30,000s respectively.

The estimated debt of $16,000 sits slightly above the national median but reflects what's typical for Washington community colleges offering this credential. At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.46, the math works: graduates from comparable programs could reasonably expect to manage repayment on entry-level business salaries. However, the suppressed data here means we can't see whether Seattle Central's specific outcomes—its employer networks in the Seattle metro area, for instance—produce better or worse results than peer schools.

The practical challenge is that business management associate's degrees often serve as stepping stones rather than terminal credentials. If your student plans to transfer to a four-year program, this could provide affordable foundational coursework in a high-cost city. If they're entering the workforce directly, the estimated earnings suggest steady but modest returns—adequate for launching a career, but not exceptional compared to Washington's top performers in this field.