Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degree) at Southeastern Illinois College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$43,736

Est. from IL median (7 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$12,000

Est. from national median (291 programs)

Analysis

Illinois business associate's programs typically produce first-year earnings around $44,000, which is where peer institutions suggest this Southeastern Illinois program lands—a full $10,000 above the national median for this credential. With estimated debt around $12,000, graduates would be looking at monthly loan payments of roughly $135, manageable on an income in the low-to-mid $40s.

What matters here is the context: while top Chicago-area community colleges like Harper place graduates near $60,000, rural southern Illinois simply has a different job market. The estimated earnings align with what's typical for business associate's degree holders across Illinois, suggesting this program prepares students adequately for their local employment landscape. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27 indicates reasonable financing relative to expected income.

The uncertainty around these estimates shouldn't be dismissed—actual outcomes for Southeastern Illinois graduates could vary considerably from these peer-based projections. For families weighing this investment, the key question is whether their student plans to stay in the Harrisburg area or relocate to a stronger job market after graduation. The credential appears financially sound based on state averages, but the wide range among Illinois programs (from $40,000 to $60,000 first-year earnings) suggests location and connections will matter as much as the degree itself.

Where Southeastern Illinois College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

Business Administration, Management and Operations associates's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (51 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Southeastern Illinois CollegeHarrisburg	$4,320	$43,736*	—	$12,000*	—
William Rainey Harper CollegePalatine	$3,822	$59,982*	—	—*	—
College of DuPageGlen Ellyn	$4,320	$46,497*	—	$12,000*	0.26
Roosevelt UniversityChicago	$20,280	$44,510*	$43,617	$12,000*	0.27
Rasmussen University-IllinoisRockford	$13,546	$43,736*	$45,005	$25,555*	0.58
Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet	$4,530	$39,887*	—	—*	—
National Median	—	$33,977*	—	$13,980*	0.41

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Southeastern Illinois College, approximately 23% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 7 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.