Business/Commerce, General at Austin Community College District

Austin, TX · Public · Associate Degree

with 25,969 students enrolled in Austin, TX.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,267 at Austin Community College District come in 17% above the national median of $36,982 for Business/Commerce, General programs.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 110.2x 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 22% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $43,267 far exceeding the $9,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #2 of 130 nationally, this is a top-5% Business/Commerce, General program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $43,267 to $55,130 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical trade career progression.

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

85 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
78
Low End
85
Score
87
High End
Earnings $43,267/yr (17% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$577K
6.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
113.1x
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)
$5,100
Out-of-state: $21,180
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,000
2.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,130
27% 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 Austin Community College District

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Austin Community College District's Business/Commerce, General program score?
This program scores 85/100 — 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?
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.
What's the typical debt for Business/Commerce, General graduates from Austin Community College District?
Median debt of just $9,000 against $43,267/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes Austin Community College District's Business/Commerce, General program stand out?
The #2 ranking out of 130 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this trade.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business/Commerce, General?
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.
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 →