Business/Commerce at UCNJ Union College of Union County New Jersey

Union College's business associate degree starts rough but tells an unusual recovery story. Fresh graduates earn just $27,225—putting them in the bottom 5% nationally and bottom quarter statewide. That's $10,000 below New Jersey's median for business programs and well behind nearby competitors like Raritan Valley ($38,387) and Passaic County ($35,905). For context, this trails what many retail managers earn without a degree.

The saving grace is remarkable earnings growth: by year four, graduates reach $46,445, surging past both state and national medians. That 71% jump suggests many students use this degree as a stepping stone, perhaps continuing education or breaking into better employers after building experience. The minimal debt load of $6,456—among the lowest in the state—means graduates aren't crushed by payments during those lean early years.

This program works for students who can weather extremely low initial earnings, likely by living at home or working multiple jobs. With 44% of students on Pell grants, many come from families where that first-year salary presents real hardship. If your child needs decent earnings immediately after graduation to support themselves, this isn't the path. But for students who can afford patience and view this as the first credential in a longer journey, the low debt and eventual earnings rebound offer a financially viable route into business careers.