Business Administration, Management and Operations at Sussex County Community College

The small sample size here matters, but these numbers tell a story worth understanding. With first-year earnings of $27,166—roughly $6,000 below New Jersey's median for this program—Sussex County Community College's business associate's degree ranks in just the 25th percentile statewide. That gap widens when you compare to top performers like Thomas Edison State ($46,000) or even nearby community colleges like Hudson County ($35,000). The $11,000 in debt is manageable, but you're paying for below-average early returns.

The trajectory offers some reassurance: earnings jump 61% to $43,610 by year four, suggesting graduates eventually find their footing in the job market. Still, that four-year mark barely exceeds what some comparable programs deliver immediately after graduation. For a family considering this investment, the question becomes whether your student can weather those lean early years. With over a third of students receiving Pell grants, many Sussex County families face exactly this pressure.

If your child has options at Hudson County or other northern New Jersey community colleges, the data suggests they'd start with better earning potential. If Sussex County is the local choice for geographic or personal reasons, go in knowing the first few years may require supplemental income or family support while career momentum builds.