Business/Commerce, General at UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ

Cranford, NJ · Public · Associate Degree

with a mid-sized student body of 7,760 in Cranford, NJ.

Program Analysis

At $27,225 per year, Business/Commerce, General graduates from UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ earn below the $36,982 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

With a 42.9x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Business/Commerce, General carry above-average AI exposure (46% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

The median debt load of $9,229 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios in vocational education.

A #112 ranking among 130 Business/Commerce, General programs places UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $27,225-to-$55,138 earnings arc over five years reflects a 103% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

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

64 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
56
Low End
64
Score
67
High End
Earnings $27,225/yr (-26% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (54% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$478K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
45.2x
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)
$10,560
Out-of-state: $19,000
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,229
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,138
103% 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 UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ

How Does a Bachelor's Degree Compare?

Four-year programs take longer but may unlock different career trajectories. See the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ's Business/Commerce, General program score?
This program scores 64/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business/Commerce, General programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $284,834 in decade earnings vs $477,764 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is UCNJ Union College of Union County NJ a good choice for Business/Commerce, General 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.
Can I learn Business/Commerce, General through an apprenticeship instead?
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 →