Business Administration at Dutchess Community College

Poughkeepsie, NY · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with a smaller student body of 3,696 in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $25,712/yr fall 28% below the $35,542 national median for Business Administration. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 39.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 47% of job tasks, producing a 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At $7,599 in median debt against $25,712 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #362 out of 455 programs, Dutchess Community College's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $25,712 to $51,171 over five years (99% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

With 28 registered apprenticeships mapped to Business Administration, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

63 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
63
Score
65
High End
Earnings $25,712/yr (-28% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$451K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
42.2x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
42 of 42
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$10,692
Out-of-state: $20,292
Median Debt at Graduation
$7,599
3.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,171
99% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business Administration graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Chief executives $206,420 +4.3% 44%
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 +15.2% 47%
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 +3.8% 59%
Chief executives
$206,420
+4.3% growth 44% AI-proof
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200
+15.2% growth 47% AI-proof
Architectural and engineering managers
$167,740
+3.8% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 42 career paths with full salary data →

About Business Administration Careers

Your career will likely begin on the front lines as a supervisor, where your day revolves around people. You’ll be creating work schedules, training new hires on office procedures, approving timesheets, and serving as the go-to person for your team’s daily questions. With experience, you can advance into an operations manager role. Here, your focus shifts to the bigger picture: analyzing performance data in spreadsheets to find efficiencies, managing departmental budgets, and solving logistical puzzles to keep the entire business running smoothly.

Read the full Business Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration Overview

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Dutchess Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Dutchess Community College's Business Administration program score?
At 63/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business Administration is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration?
AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
What's the typical debt for Business Administration graduates from Dutchess Community College?
At $7,599 in median debt, Business Administration graduates from Dutchess Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Is Dutchess Community College a good choice for Business Administration despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business Administration?
Yes — 28 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Business Administration career paths, including Bank Branch Manager. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Business Administration graduates?
The career paths mapped to Business Administration have roughly 1,753,300 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →