Business/Commerce, General at Montgomery College
enrolling 13,519 students in Rockville, MD.
Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $29,449 place Montgomery College below the $36,982 national median for Business/Commerce, General — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.
The 45.5x 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 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.
With first-year pay of $29,449 far exceeding the $10,898 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
At #95 out of 130 programs, Montgomery College's financial outcomes for Business/Commerce, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.
Earnings growth from $29,449 to $63,097 over five years (114% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.
With 8 registered apprenticeships mapped to Business/Commerce, General, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
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% |
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.
Compare & Explore
Business/Commerce, General Overview
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Explore the Degree Alternative
Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.