Business/Commerce, General at Laurel Ridge Community College
VA · Associate's Degree · CIP 52.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Business/Commerce, General degree from Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median salary of $50,802 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $49,563. The degree typically pays for itself in 12.7 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$36,857
Typical Career
$50,802
Top Performers
$68,098
Estimated break-even: 12.7 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$339
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $4,234. Most students can comfortably afford about a $339 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.3x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.7x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$49,563
Nominal: $50,802 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $32,682 | $43,047 | $58,956 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $36,857 | $50,802 | $68,098 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $35,802 | $54,656 | $79,660 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $50,802 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $50,802 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $49,563 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
Graduates primarily enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sectors, with 36.2% employed in this industry, followed by 26.0% and 14.2% in similar roles. This concentration suggests a strong alignment between the program and the growing demand for professionals in health-related fields. The estimated break-even point for pursuing this degree versus a high school diploma is approximately 12.7 years, indicating a reasonable return on investment for those who complete the program. Overall, the combination of earnings potential and industry demand presents a favorable outlook for students considering this path.
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Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.