Business/Commerce, General at San Jacinto Community College

Pasadena, TX · Public · Associate Degree

with 23,071 students enrolled in Pasadena, TX.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,572/yr, roughly in line with the $36,982 national median for Business/Commerce, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 137.2x 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.

With first-year pay of $33,572 far exceeding the $9,950 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #5 of 130 nationally, this is a top-5% Business/Commerce, General program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $51,861 show a 54% jump from the $33,572 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.

81 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
73
Low End
81
Score
83
High End
Earnings $33,572/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$575K
11.5% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
144.2x
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)
$3,984
Out-of-state: $10,704
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,950
3.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,861
54% 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 San Jacinto Community College

Explore the Degree Alternative

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Business/Commerce, General at San Jacinto Community College?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. San Jacinto Community College's Business/Commerce, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Will AI affect Business/Commerce, General careers?
AI won't 'replace' Business/Commerce, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
How affordable is Business/Commerce, General at San Jacinto Community College?
Median debt of just $9,950 against $33,572/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 4 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What makes San Jacinto Community College's Business/Commerce, General program stand out?
The #5 ranking out of 130 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable, and the job market supports this 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.
Is there demand for Business/Commerce, General workers?
With approximately 832,900 annual openings across mapped careers, Business/Commerce, General 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 →