Business/Commerce, General at Mount Wachusett Community College
a compact campus enrolling 2,554 students in Gardner, MA.
Program Analysis
At $42,825 per year, Business/Commerce, General graduates from Mount Wachusett Community College earn slightly above the $36,982 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 45.3x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 20% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business/Commerce, General career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.
The median debt load of $8,274 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.
Mount Wachusett Community College ranks #28 among 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.
A 25% earnings increase from $42,825 to $53,518 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.
The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to Business/Commerce, General reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.
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
Business/Commerce, General at Other Schools
Other Majors at Mount Wachusett Community College
How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?
Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.