Business at Mount Wachusett Community College

Gardner, MA · Public · Associate Degree · Business/Commerce, General

a compact campus enrolling 2,554 students in Gardner, MA.

Program Analysis

At $42,825 per year, Business graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College earn slightly above the $36,982 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

With a 45.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 20% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

The median debt load of $8,274 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Mount Wachusett Community College ranks #28 among 130 Business programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 25% earnings increase from $42,825 to $53,518 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to Business reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

75 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
75
Score
77
High End
Earnings $42,825/yr (16% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$557K
5.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
46.4x
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)
$12,000
Out-of-state: $21,840
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,274
2.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,518
25% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business 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 →

Business Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, Business careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering business & office.

Read the full Business career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Overview

Business at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mount Wachusett Community College

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 75/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business at Mount Wachusett Community College?
At 75/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
How vulnerable is Business to AI automation?
Our scenarios model 46% of Business tasks as AI-exposed. That doesn't mean job loss — it means role evolution. Mount Wachusett Community College's 75/100 score weights this risk into the overall assessment.
What's the typical debt for Business graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College?
At $8,274 in median debt, Business graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Why does Mount Wachusett Community College rank so high for Business?
Ranked #28 of 130 programs nationally, Mount Wachusett Community College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Can I learn Business through an apprenticeship instead of Mount Wachusett Community College?
Yes — 8 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Business career paths, including Health Information Management Business Analyst. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to a program at Mount Wachusett Community College.
Will Business graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College find jobs?
The career paths mapped to Business have roughly 832,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →