Business Administration, Management and Operations at West Kentucky Community and Technical College

Earning under $29,000 a year after completing a business credential puts West Kentucky Community and Technical College graduates in a difficult position. This trails not only the national median by more than $10,000, but also lags behind Kentucky's state median by nearly $7,000. At the 25th percentile among Kentucky programs, this means three-quarters of similar business programs in the state deliver better outcomes—including Owensboro CTC's graduates who earn $41,251, a difference of almost $13,000 annually.

The debt load of $12,445 represents a manageable 43% of first-year earnings, which is below the typical one-year-salary threshold advisors recommend. However, that's cold comfort when the baseline salary itself is so low. At under $29,000, graduates face tight margins for living expenses and debt repayment, even with a relatively modest loan burden.

For Kentucky families exploring business certificates, this program underperforms the state's community college alternatives by a significant margin. Unless there are compelling geographic or personal circumstances that make West Kentucky the only viable option, prospective students should seriously consider programs like those at Owensboro, Elizabethtown, or Gateway, where graduates earn $10,000-$13,000 more annually—a difference that compounds substantially over a career.