Business/Commerce, General at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Johnstown, PA · Public · Associate Degree

a compact campus enrolling 719 students in Johnstown, PA.

Program Analysis

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College's Business/Commerce, General graduates start at $23,730/yr, trailing the $36,982 national average by 36%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 28.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business/Commerce, General programs nationally.

The 40% 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.

Median debt of $12,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $23,730 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

Ranked #119 of 130 Business/Commerce, General programs, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $39,935 show a 68% jump from the $23,730 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.

58 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
50
Low End
58
Score
60
High End
Earnings $23,730/yr (-36% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$416K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
29.8x
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)
$13,980
Out-of-state: $26,160
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,935
68% 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

Other Majors at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Pennsylvania Highlands Community College's Business/Commerce, General program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Pennsylvania Highlands Community College trails the majority of Business/Commerce, General programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business/Commerce, General?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $248,268 in decade earnings vs $416,432 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Business/Commerce, General from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College?
Starting salary is one data point. If Pennsylvania Highlands 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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business/Commerce, General?
Business/Commerce, General connects to 8 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.
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 →