Business/Commerce, General at Pierpont Community and Technical College

Fairmont, WV · Public · Associate Degree

a smaller institution with 906 students in Fairmont, WV.

Program Analysis

Pierpont Community and Technical College's Business/Commerce, General graduates start at $26,517/yr, trailing the $36,982 national average by 28%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 28.0x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $14,920 represents roughly 7 months of the $26,517 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #116 of 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, Pierpont Community and Technical College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $30,992 are relatively flat compared to the $26,517 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

60 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
60
Score
61
High End
Earnings $26,517/yr (-28% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$318K
4.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
28.4x
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)
$11,188
Out-of-state: $26,524
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,920
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$30,992
17% 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

Other Majors at Pierpont Community and Technical College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pierpont Community and Technical College's Business/Commerce, General program score?
At 60/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business/Commerce, General is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How vulnerable is Business/Commerce, General to AI automation?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $277,426 in decade earnings vs $318,004 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Business/Commerce, General from Pierpont Community and Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Pierpont Community and Technical 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?
There are 8 registered apprenticeships connected to Business/Commerce, General occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Business/Commerce, General graduates?
With approximately 832,900 annual openings across mapped careers, Business/Commerce, General offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →