Business at Pima Community College

Tucson, AZ · Public · Associate Degree · Business/Commerce, General

enrolling 13,869 students in Tucson, AZ.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $31,107/yr fall 16% below the $36,982 national median for Business. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 109.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business 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 graduates.

At $6,500 in median debt against $31,107 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

Ranked #12 of 130 programs, Pima Community College's Business program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $53,336 show a 71% jump from the $31,107 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
69
Low End
78
Score
80
High End
Earnings $31,107/yr (-16% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$546K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
115.2x
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)
$4,740
Out-of-state: $15,372
Median Debt at Graduation
$6,500
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,336
71% 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

What can you do with a Business credential from Pima Community College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Business career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Overview

Business at Other Schools

Other Majors at Pima Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Business at Pima Community College?
This program scores 78/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business at Pima Community College?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $325,448 in decade earnings vs $545,889 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the typical debt for Business graduates from Pima Community College?
At $6,500 in median debt, Business graduates from Pima Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.2x is well below the trade program average.
Is Pima Community College a good choice for Business despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Pima Community 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 graduates?
If Pima Community College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 8 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Business. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
Will Business graduates from Pima Community College find jobs?
Job availability for Business is strong — 832,900 positions open annually across the mapped career paths. For Pima Community College graduates specifically, local market conditions in AZ may shift the picture.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →