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Business Operations Support at Northwood Technical College

Rice Lake, WI · Public · Associate Degree · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

a compact campus enrolling 2,026 students in Rice Lake, WI.

Program Analysis

Northwood Technical College's Business Operations Support graduates start at $27,494/yr — above the $26,180 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 42.1x 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 67% of job tasks, producing a 37% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,667 in median debt clears fast against $27,494 in annual earnings.

Ranked #28 out of 155 programs, Northwood Technical College's Business Operations Support program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $27,494 to $41,464 over five years (51% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

With 17 registered apprenticeships mapped to Business Operations Support, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

58 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
51
Low End
58
Score
63
High End
Earnings $27,494/yr (5% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (33% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,381,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$456K
10.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
50.4x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
14 of 18
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)
$9,048
Out-of-state: $13,166
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,667
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$41,464
51% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business Operations Support graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Business operations specialists, all other $81,270 +3.0% 48%
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants $74,260 -1.6% 35%
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers $66,140 -0.3% 51%
Business operations specialists, all other
$81,270
+3.0% growth 48% AI-proof
Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
$74,260
-1.6% growth 35% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
$66,140
-0.3% growth 51% AI-proof

View all 18 career paths with full salary data →

About Business Operations Support Careers

Your career will likely begin at the heart of a company’s daily functions. You might start as a customer service representative, using a headset and CRM software to resolve client issues, or as an office clerk, managing team schedules, processing invoices in QuickBooks, and ensuring the office runs smoothly. These roles are the engine room of any business.

Read the full Business Operations Support career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Operations Support Overview

View all 155 schools offering Business Operations Support →

Business Operations Support at Other Schools

Washtenaw Community College ($46,821) Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville ($41,217) Houston Community College ($37,482) Alaska Vocational Technical Center ($37,409) Chippewa Valley Technical College ($36,178) Tidewater Community College ($35,687) Greenville Technical College ($35,672) Houston Community College ($35,300)

Other Majors at Northwood Technical College

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($64,281) Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies ($55,793) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($50,239) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($44,966) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($43,765) Precision Metal Working ($42,282) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($41,564) Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management ($41,473)

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Compare Business Operations Support degree programs on DegreeOutlook →

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwood Technical College's Business Operations Support program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Business Operations Support graduates.
Will AI affect Business Operations Support careers?
AI won't 'replace' Business Operations Support careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 67% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
What makes Northwood Technical College's Business Operations Support program stand out?
Among 155 Business Operations Support programs, Northwood Technical College's #28 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Business Operations Support graduates?
Business Operations Support connects to 17 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
Is there demand for Business Operations Support workers?
With approximately 1,381,100 annual openings across mapped careers, Business Operations Support 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 →