Business at South Texas College

McAllen, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Business/Commerce, General

serving 16,131 students in McAllen, TX.

Program Analysis

South Texas College's Business graduates start at $24,738/yr, trailing the $36,982 national average by 33%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 36.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI exposure is significant at 46% of job tasks, producing a 31% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At #115 out of 130 programs, South Texas College's financial outcomes for Business trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $24,738 to $34,698 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 8 registered apprenticeships mapped to Business, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

61 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
53
Low End
61
Score
63
High End
Earnings $24,738/yr (-33% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$373K
8.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
37.9x
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)
$9,840
Out-of-state: $15,000
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$34,698
40% 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

Business opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Business career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Overview

Business at Other Schools

Other Majors at South Texas 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 South Texas College's Business program score?
A score of 61/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but South Texas College trails the majority of Business programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
What's the AI risk for Business graduates from South Texas College?
AI exposure of 46% is a real factor. For South Texas College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($372,748) and pessimistic ($258,814) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
Why are Business earnings lower at South Texas College?
Starting salary is one data point. If South Texas 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 South Texas 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.
What's the job market like for Business from South Texas College?
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 →