Business/Commerce, General at Kent State University at Kent

Kent, OH · Public · Associate Degree

Kent State University at Kent has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 19,134 students in Kent, OH.

Program Analysis

At $38,871 per year, Business/Commerce, General graduates from Kent State University at Kent earn slightly above the $36,982 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 17.9x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $17,942 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

Ranked #109 of 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, Kent State University at Kent falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $45,670 are relatively flat compared to the $38,871 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

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

65 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
60
Low End
65
Score
67
High End
Earnings $38,871/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$469K
4.1% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
18.3x
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)
$25,692
Out-of-state: $44,632
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,942
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,670
17% 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 Kent State University at Kent

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 65/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business/Commerce, General at Kent State University at Kent?
A score of 65/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Kent State University at Kent trails the majority of Business/Commerce, General programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business/Commerce, General?
There are 8 registered apprenticeships connected to Business/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General workers?
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 →