Business Administration, Management and Operations at Spokane Community College

The earnings trajectory here should raise immediate concerns: graduates start below average at $31,974, then see their income drop 14% to just $27,329 four years out. That's the opposite of what you'd expect from an associate's degree, which should help graduates climb the income ladder, not slide down it. Among Washington's 34 business administration programs, this lands squarely at the median—yet nearby Columbia Basin College's graduates earn $42,127, showing what's possible with the same credential in the same state.

The debt picture offers a silver lining. At $20,416, it's higher than the state median but well below national averages, and the 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay this off. Still, with earnings declining rather than growing, that repayment may feel harder than the ratio suggests. The program serves a modest Pell grant population (28%), but the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—means these numbers could shift significantly year to year.

For an anxious parent, the question is simple: would $20,000 in debt be worth it if your child's earnings might actually decline over the first four years? Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend Spokane Community College specifically, other Washington programs show stronger returns on investment.