Business/Commerce, General at Pima Community College

Tucson, AZ · Public · Associate Degree

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/Commerce, General. 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/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 $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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General 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/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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Business/Commerce, General at Pima Community College?
This program scores 78/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business/Commerce, General nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
Will AI affect Business/Commerce, General careers?
AI won't 'replace' Business/Commerce, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
What's the typical debt for Business/Commerce, General graduates from Pima Community College?
At $6,500 in median debt, Business/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General graduates?
Business/Commerce, General connects to 8 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
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 →