Business Administration, Management and Operations at Valencia College

Valencia College's business degree delivers what might be the program's actual selling point: relatively low debt at $20,000, which is below both the Florida median and substantially below the national average of $26,000. That matters because the earnings picture is underwhelming—$39,073 puts graduates at the 21st percentile nationally and below Florida's state median of $45,072.

Here's the practical reality: your child would graduate owing about half their first-year salary, which is manageable. However, they'd be earning roughly $6,000 less annually than the typical Florida business graduate and nearly $7,000 below the national benchmark. Over a career, that gap compounds significantly. The state percentile ranking of 40th means this program lands squarely in the bottom half even among Florida schools, where Valencia actually resides as a state college serving a large Pell-eligible population.

The value proposition hinges entirely on keeping costs down. If your child can attend Valencia while living at home and minimize additional borrowing beyond that $20,000 median, the debt load won't be crushing. But they should understand they're likely starting their career with a salary disadvantage compared to peers from other Florida business programs—and that's before considering elite performers like Embry-Riddle, where graduates earn $27,000 more annually. If higher earnings potential matters, this program isn't the path to get there.