Business Administration at Delaware County Community College

Media, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with a mid-sized student body of 7,065 in Media, PA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $27,229/yr fall 23% below the $35,542 national median for Business Administration. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

With a 33.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Business Administration carry above-average AI exposure (47% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

At $11,000 in median debt against $27,229 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

A #369 ranking among 455 Business Administration programs places Delaware County Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $27,229-to-$55,810 earnings arc over five years reflects a 105% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 28 apprenticeship pathways connected to Business Administration reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
54
Low End
62
Score
65
High End
Earnings $27,229/yr (-23% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$478K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
35.9x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
42 of 42
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)
$13,320
Out-of-state: $29,880
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,000
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,810
105% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business Administration graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Chief executives $206,420 +4.3% 44%
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 +15.2% 47%
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 +3.8% 59%
Chief executives
$206,420
+4.3% growth 44% AI-proof
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200
+15.2% growth 47% AI-proof
Architectural and engineering managers
$167,740
+3.8% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 42 career paths with full salary data →

About Business Administration Careers

Your career will likely begin on the front lines as a supervisor, where your day revolves around people. You’ll be creating work schedules, training new hires on office procedures, approving timesheets, and serving as the go-to person for your team’s daily questions. With experience, you can advance into an operations manager role. Here, your focus shifts to the bigger picture: analyzing performance data in spreadsheets to find efficiencies, managing departmental budgets, and solving logistical puzzles to keep the entire business running smoothly.

Read the full Business Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration Overview

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Delaware County 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 does a 62/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at Delaware County Community College?
At 62/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business Administration is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $284,875 in decade earnings vs $477,834 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why are Business Administration earnings lower at Delaware County Community College?
Lower starting pay at Delaware County Community College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business Administration?
There are 28 registered apprenticeships connected to Business Administration occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Business Administration workers?
With approximately 1,753,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Business Administration 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 →