Business/Commerce, General at El Paso Community College

El Paso, TX · Public · Associate Degree

with 22,893 students enrolled in El Paso, TX.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $25,900/yr fall 30% below the $36,982 national median for Business/Commerce, General. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 65.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business/Commerce, General programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 46% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Business/Commerce, General graduates.

At $4,900 in median debt against $25,900 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #71 of 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, El Paso Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $41,344 show a 60% jump from the $25,900 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

Business/Commerce, General offers 8 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
69
Score
71
High End
Earnings $25,900/yr (-30% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$455K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
69.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
16 of 16
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)
$6,548
Out-of-state: $10,628
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,900
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,344
60% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business/Commerce, General graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Chief executives $206,420 +4.3% 44%
Sales managers $138,060 +4.7% 55%
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
Chief executives
$206,420
+4.3% growth 44% AI-proof
Sales managers
$138,060
+4.7% growth 55% AI-proof
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof

View all 16 career paths with full salary data →

About Business/Commerce, General Careers

Your career in business often starts by mastering a specific function. You might begin as a project coordinator, using tools like Asana and Slack to keep teams on schedule, or as a management analyst, digging into spreadsheets and interviewing staff to pinpoint how a company can improve efficiency. Your days are a mix of collaboration, problem-solving, and communicating your findings to leadership. As you gain experience, you’ll progress from executing tasks to directing them, becoming an operations manager who oversees a department’s budget and staff or a sales manager leading a team to hit its targets.

Read the full Business/Commerce, General career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business/Commerce, General Overview

Business/Commerce, General at Other Schools

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 69/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business/Commerce, General at El Paso Community College?
This program scores 69/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business/Commerce, General programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
How vulnerable is Business/Commerce, General to AI automation?
The 46% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What's the typical debt for Business/Commerce, General graduates from El Paso Community College?
At $4,900 in median debt, Business/Commerce, General graduates from El Paso Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is El Paso Community College a good choice for Business/Commerce, General despite lower starting pay?
Lower starting pay at El Paso Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business/Commerce, General?
Yes — 8 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Business/Commerce, General career paths, including Health Information Management Business Analyst. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
Is there demand for Business/Commerce, General workers?
The career paths mapped to Business/Commerce, General have roughly 832,900 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 →