Business Operations Support at Southside Virginia Community College

Alberta, VA · Public · Associate Degree · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services

with a smaller student body of 1,835 in Alberta, VA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $18,788/yr fall 28% below the $26,180 national median for Business Operations Support. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 27.9x 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 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

At #140 out of 155 programs, Southside Virginia Community College's financial outcomes for Business Operations Support trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $18,788 to $30,621 over five years (63% 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.

49 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
42
Low End
49
Score
54
High End
Earnings $18,788/yr (-28% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (33% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,381,100 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$330K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
34.0x
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)
$9,696
Out-of-state: $21,702
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$30,621
63% 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

Business Operations Support at Other Schools

Other Majors at Southside Virginia Community College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Southside Virginia Community College's Business Operations Support program score?
At 49/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Business Operations Support programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
How vulnerable is Business Operations Support to AI automation?
With 67% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $196,564 in decade earnings vs $329,706 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Southside Virginia Community College a good choice for Business Operations Support despite lower starting pay?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Business Operations Support graduates?
There are 17 registered apprenticeships connected to Business Operations Support occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
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 →