Business/Commerce (Associate's Degree) at Wharton County Junior College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$29,619

20th percentile

40th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$13,000

3% below national median

Analysis

The small sample size here means you should be cautious, but the pattern isn't encouraging: first-year earnings of $29,619 fall well below both Texas's median ($32,974) and the national average ($36,591) for associate business programs. While this places Wharton County JC at the 40th percentile within Texas—meaning roughly half of similar programs in the state deliver better outcomes—that still represents a $5,000+ gap compared to top community college options like Austin Community College ($43,267) or Blinn College ($34,483).

The debt load of $13,000 isn't alarming on its own, producing a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio. But consider what that means practically: graduates earning under $30,000 annually will need to carefully budget loan payments while building their careers. At these income levels, financial breathing room matters significantly, and other Texas community colleges deliver similar debt with substantially higher starting salaries.

If your child is set on Wharton County JC for location or cost reasons, understand they may need to be particularly strategic about internships and job placement to close that earnings gap. Otherwise, it's worth exploring whether nearby alternatives—even if they require a short commute—might position them better financially from day one.

Where Wharton County Junior College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Wharton County Junior College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in Texas (43 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Wharton County Junior CollegeWharton	$2,916	$29,619	—	$13,000	0.44
Strayer University-TexasFarmers Branch	$13,920	$44,154	$47,516	$32,810	0.74
DeVry University-TexasIrving	$17,488	$43,716	—	$30,444	0.70
Austin Community College DistrictAustin	$2,550	$43,267	$52,005	$12,500	0.29
Blinn College DistrictBrenham	$4,580	$34,483	$43,026	$12,399	0.36
Dallas CollegeDallas	$2,370	$34,095	$51,391	$10,500	0.31
National Median	—	$36,591	—	$13,437	0.37

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Wharton County Junior College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 20 graduates with reported earnings and 29 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.