Business/Commerce, General at North Arkansas College

Harrison, AR · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 1,184 students in Harrison, AR.

Program Analysis

At $30,627 per year, Business/Commerce, General graduates from North Arkansas College earn below the $36,982 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 50.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business/Commerce, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business/Commerce, General's career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $12,986 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

At #59 of 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, North Arkansas College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

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
65
Low End
69
Score
71
High End
Earnings $30,627/yr (-17% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Year 1 Earnings
$31K
Reported median after graduation
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.6x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
16 of 16
Occupations with strong AI resilience
Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,336
Out-of-state: $11,088
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,986
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$30,514
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

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

Other Majors at North Arkansas 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 69/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business/Commerce, General at North Arkansas College?
At 69/100, North Arkansas College's Business/Commerce, General program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business/Commerce, General?
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.
Is North Arkansas College a good choice for Business/Commerce, General despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If North Arkansas College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Business/Commerce, General graduates?
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 →