Business Administration, Management and Operations at Somerset Community College

Somerset Community College's business associate degree shows a troubling pattern that should concern any parent: graduates actually earn less four years out than they do in their first year of work. Starting at $33,171, earnings drop to $27,540 by year four—a 17% decline that's the opposite of what you want to see from an educational investment.

The program ranks in the 40th percentile among Kentucky's 25 business associate programs, trailing the state median of $35,788. Top-performing community colleges in Kentucky like Gateway and Elizabethtown place graduates earning $43,000-$39,000—roughly $10,000 more annually than Somerset's four-year outcomes. While the debt load of $16,361 is manageable at first glance, it becomes less attractive when paired with declining earnings that settle below $28,000.

For families in rural Kentucky where Somerset is located, the calculus is stark: your child could graduate with debt equal to nearly 60% of their fourth-year earnings, working jobs that pay less over time rather than building toward higher income. If staying local is important, this degree might provide access to entry-level positions, but families should understand they're not getting the earnings trajectory that better-performing Kentucky community colleges deliver.