Business Administration, Management and Operations at Vance-Granville Community College

First-year earnings of $38,146 place this program above both state and national medians—landing in the 68th percentile nationally—but what happens next should concern any parent considering this investment. Graduates see their earnings drop 13% by year four, falling to $33,028. This isn't typical volatility; it suggests graduates may be taking jobs that don't sustain momentum or that the associate's degree alone doesn't position them for advancement in business roles.

The estimated debt of $21,232, derived from comparable North Carolina community college programs, creates a manageable but not exceptional financial picture. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, graduates would likely need roughly seven months of first-year income to cover what they borrowed—reasonable if those earnings held steady, but more challenging as income contracts. Other community colleges in North Carolina are producing stronger outcomes: Catawba Valley and Davidson-Davie both report median earnings above $41,000, suggesting the program and local job market matter significantly.

The backward earnings trajectory is the critical issue here. Your child might start reasonably well but find themselves earning less four years out than they did fresh out of school. Unless they're planning to use this degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor's, where business programs typically show stronger growth, this particular path presents real questions about return on investment that more successful peer programs don't.