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Business at Northampton County Area Community College

Bethlehem, PA · Public · Associate Degree · Business/Commerce, General

enrolling 7,512 students in Bethlehem, PA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $28,503/yr fall 23% below the $36,982 national median for Business. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 44.7x 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.

At $13,849 in median debt against $28,503 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #99 out of 130 programs, Northampton County Area Community College's financial outcomes for Business trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,503 to $53,143 over five years (86% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

With 8 registered apprenticeships mapped to Business, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

66 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
57
Low End
66
Score
68
High End
Earnings $28,503/yr (-23% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$500K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
47.1x
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)
$10,620
Out-of-state: $29,460
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,849
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,143
86% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business 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 →

Business Career Guide

Business opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Business career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Overview

View all 130 schools offering Business →

Business at Other Schools

Thomas More University ($83,571) Indiana University-Bloomington ($71,550) Empire State University ($62,409) Davenport University ($49,530) Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ($49,463) Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global ($49,463) Lehigh Carbon Community College ($47,276) James A. Rhodes State College ($45,238)

Other Majors at Northampton County Area Community College

Nursing ($73,236) Allied Health Professions ($54,892) Dental Assisting ($50,692) Practical Nursing ($49,105) Funeral Service & Mortuary Science ($39,949) Hospitality Management ($37,199) Veterinary Technology ($34,335) Business Administration ($33,977)

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare Business degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 66/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business at Northampton County Area Community College?
This program scores 66/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
What's the AI risk for Business graduates from Northampton County Area Community College?
The 46% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — Northampton County Area Community College graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Why are Business earnings lower at Northampton County Area Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Northampton County Area Community College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Can I learn Business through an apprenticeship instead of Northampton County Area Community College?
There are 8 registered apprenticeships connected to Business occupations, such as Health Information Management Business Analyst and Health Information Management Data Analyst. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
What's the job market like for Business from Northampton County Area Community College?
The very large job market (832,900 annual openings) works in favor of Business graduates. The national outlook is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →