Business/Commerce (Associate's Degree) at Thiel College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$36,274

Est. from PA median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$24,509

Est. from national median (19 programs)

Analysis

At nearly $25,000 in estimated debt, this associate's degree costs almost twice what the typical Pennsylvania business program charges—and that premium isn't translating to higher earnings. Based on comparable business associate's programs in Pennsylvania, first-year earnings hover around $36,300, right at the state median. The debt load, however, is nearly double Pennsylvania's typical $12,900, putting this program's estimated debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.68—well above what community colleges in the state deliver.

The comparison to Pennsylvania's community colleges is stark. Lehigh Carbon graduates earn $47,300 in their first year with less debt, while Harrisburg Area and Montgomery County produce similar earnings to what Thiel's program estimates but at a fraction of the cost. For a two-year business credential, that difference matters immediately: monthly loan payments will consume a significantly larger share of early paychecks than they would for community college graduates earning comparable salaries.

The value question here is straightforward: you're likely paying private college prices for outcomes that mirror community college results. Unless Thiel offers something uniquely valuable—specific industry connections, a clear transfer pathway, or specialized training unavailable elsewhere—the estimated debt burden looks difficult to justify when Pennsylvania's community colleges offer business programs with better financial profiles.

Where Thiel College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (20 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Thiel CollegeGreenville	$36,864	$36,274*	—	$24,509*	—
Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville	$5,215	$47,276*	$41,038	$11,500*	0.24
Strayer University-PennsylvaniaTrevose	$13,920	$44,154*	$47,516	$32,810*	0.74
Luzerne County Community CollegeNanticoke	$6,450	$38,515*	$34,401	$10,750*	0.28
Harrisburg Area Community CollegeHarrisburg	$7,373	$36,708*	$39,256	$19,976*	0.54
Montgomery County Community CollegeBlue Bell	$6,270	$36,274*	$50,580	$11,000*	0.30
National Median	—	$36,591*	—	$13,437*	0.37

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

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

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/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 Thiel College, approximately 39% 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 9 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.