Business Administration, Management and Operations at State Fair Community College

State Fair Community College's business program produces earnings well below what students could expect at comparable Missouri schools. At $26,944 one year out, graduates earn about $6,000 less than the state median and rank in just the 25th percentile among Missouri's 20 business programs. Even nearby community colleges like Ozarks Technical and Metropolitan Community College deliver substantially better outcomes—$34,644 and $38,554 respectively.

The relatively low debt of $10,343 offers some cushion, but it doesn't change the fundamental math: graduates enter the workforce earning less than $27,000 annually, which translates to roughly $13 per hour. While earnings do grow 20% by year four to $32,228, that's still below where many peer programs start. For context, Park University graduates in this field earn nearly double State Fair's first-year figure.

One important caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. However, given the substantial gap between this program and both state and national benchmarks, families should seriously consider whether a business degree from State Fair provides sufficient return on investment—even with modest debt. Unless there are compelling reasons to stay local, Missouri offers multiple community colleges with demonstrably stronger placement records in this field.