Business/Commerce, General at Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD · Public · Associate Degree

a compact campus enrolling 2,164 students in Sioux Falls, SD.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,383/yr, roughly in line with the $36,982 national median for Business/Commerce, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 29.8x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 16% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business/Commerce, General career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At $18,750 against $37,383/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #91 ranking among 130 Business/Commerce, General programs places Southeast Technical College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 20% earnings increase from $37,383 to $44,994 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

The 8 apprenticeship pathways connected to Business/Commerce, General reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
62
Low End
68
Score
70
High End
Earnings $37,383/yr (1% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$465K
4.7% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
30.4x
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
$15,300
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,750
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,994
20% 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

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Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 68/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business/Commerce, General at Southeast Technical College?
At 68/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business/Commerce, General is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Will AI affect Business/Commerce, General careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $391,109 in decade earnings vs $464,572 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can I learn Business/Commerce, General through an apprenticeship instead?
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 →