Business/Commerce, General at Passaic County Community College

Paterson, NJ · Public · Associate Degree

a compact campus enrolling 4,546 students in Paterson, NJ.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $35,905 track close to the $36,982 national median for Business/Commerce, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 52.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business/Commerce, General programs nationally.

The 39% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 46% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Business/Commerce, General graduates.

At $3,800 in median debt against $35,905 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #41 of 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, Passaic County Community College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $55,655 show a 55% jump from the $35,905 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

73 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
64
Low End
73
Score
75
High End
Earnings $35,905/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$617K
11.6% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
55.3x
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)
$11,160
Out-of-state: $19,380
Median Debt at Graduation
$3,800
1.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,655
55% 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

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Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 73/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business/Commerce, General at Passaic County Community College?
A score of 73/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Passaic County Community College's Business/Commerce, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business/Commerce, General?
The 46% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
How affordable is Business/Commerce, General at Passaic County Community College?
Median debt of just $3,800 against $35,905/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 1 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
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.
How many job openings are there for Business/Commerce, General graduates?
The career paths mapped to Business/Commerce, General have roughly 832,900 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →