Business Administration, Management and Operations at University of Cincinnati-Blue Ash College

UC-Blue Ash's business management program launches graduates at nearly $45,000—a figure that puts it in the 95th percentile nationally and ties with UC's main campus for fourth-highest in Ohio. That's impressive positioning for a community college associate's degree. However, the program sits in the middle of the pack among Ohio schools (60th percentile), reflecting the state's particularly strong business offerings at the two-year level.

The challenge appears after graduation: earnings drop to under $40,000 by year four, an 11% decline that's unusual for business programs. This pattern suggests graduates may be landing strong entry-level positions—possibly through Cincinnati's corporate job market—but aren't seeing the progression that typically comes with business experience. The moderate debt load of $16,125 keeps the initial ratio manageable at 0.36, but the earnings decline makes the payoff period longer than the first-year numbers suggest.

For students planning to transfer to a four-year program after two years, this provides solid footing with minimal debt. For those treating this as a terminal degree, the question becomes whether you can buck the earnings trend through your own career progression. The strong starting point creates opportunity, but you'll need a plan beyond the associate's degree itself to sustain earnings growth in Ohio's competitive business landscape.