Agricultural Business and Management at Southeastern Community College

Similar agricultural business programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $37,400, which would put Southeastern Community College graduates below the $42,000 median seen at other North Carolina schools offering this degree. That $4,500 gap matters in a field where many graduates enter farming operations or agribusiness positions with relatively modest starting pay. The estimated debt load of roughly $12,000 aligns closely with both state and national norms for associate degrees in this field, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32—meaning graduates would owe about a third of their first-year income.

What complicates the picture is that NC State, with actual reported outcomes, produces graduates earning that higher $42,000 figure. If Southeastern's outcomes track closer to the national average than the state average, graduates might need 4-5 months of income to cover their debt rather than the 3-4 months typical at top state programs. For students planning to stay in North Carolina's agricultural sector, that earnings gap could reflect either the realities of working in rural eastern NC versus more urban agricultural markets, or simply the difference between a two-year and four-year credential.

The practical question: if your student can access NC State or similar programs with stronger reported outcomes, the comparison favors those options. If Southeastern offers proximity to family farm operations or lower opportunity costs through its two-year format, the estimated numbers suggest a workable investment—just recognize you're making that decision with peer program data rather than this school's track record.