Business/Commerce, General at Clark College

Vancouver, WA · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 4,699 in Vancouver, WA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,313 at Clark College come in 9% above the national median of $36,982 for Business/Commerce, General programs.

With a 68.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Business/Commerce, General carry above-average AI exposure (46% of tasks). The 37% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

With first-year pay of $40,313 far exceeding the $10,325 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #11 of 130 programs, this Business/Commerce, General program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.

The $40,313-to-$60,811 earnings arc over five years reflects a 51% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to Business/Commerce, General reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

79 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
70
Low End
79
Score
81
High End
Earnings $40,313/yr (9% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$668K
10.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
72.2x
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)
$9,264
Out-of-state: $20,760
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,325
3.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,811
51% 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 Clark College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Clark College's Business/Commerce, General program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Clark College's Business/Commerce, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Will AI affect Business/Commerce, General careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $421,763 in decade earnings vs $668,431 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How affordable is Business/Commerce, General at Clark College?
At $10,325 in median debt, Business/Commerce, General graduates from Clark College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
Can I learn Business/Commerce, General through an apprenticeship instead?
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 →