WhatGradsMake
Certificate (1-2 years)-14% vs national median178 grads tracked

Business/Commerce, General at Northern Virginia Community College

Ranked 3rd of 13 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Business/Commerce, General by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$54,615
middle 50%: $33,505 – $82,528
Median · 5 years out
$62,605
middle 50%: $46,475 – $87,964
Median · 10 years out
$70,184
middle 50%: $51,647 – $101,906

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Business/Commerce, General (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Northern Virginia Community College's certificate (1-2 years) program in Business/Commerce, General earn a median $54,615 one year after graduating, rising to $70,184 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 14% below the national median of $72,693 for this field, ranking 3rd of 13 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
6.2 yrs
≈ $6,700 total interest

Same major at other universities

Indiana University - Bloomington
$72,693 · 5 yrs out
Edison State Community College
$62,818 · 5 yrs out
James A. Rhodes State College
$54,522 · 5 yrs out
Howard County Junior College District
$52,479 · 5 yrs out
Schenectady County Community College
$47,574 · 5 yrs out
Baton Rouge Community College
$47,072 · 5 yrs out
University of Hawaii Maui College
$44,438 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Delta Community College
$40,978 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Northern Virginia Community College

Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,430 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$95,510 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades, General (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$92,628 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Surveying Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$87,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$86,799 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Associate)
$86,785 · 5 yrs out

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