Three Routes Start
College diploma

Business administration

Business Administration Diploma (NAIT/SAIT)

21 of 30 verified for Alberta; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Trades are 3 to 4 periods at NAIT or SAIT; RAP lets high-school students start. Numbers from ALIS (Alberta wage survey and outlook), NAIT, SAIT and the University of Alberta.
Years to credential2
First real paycheque~2 years
Time in a classroom75%
Total cost$15,310
Typical debt after$11,110
Demand in AlbertaSteady

The first ten years

schoolschoolearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$473k2 years at $0 while in school, then $49,700 rising to $62,200 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$15ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$457kthe number on the card
Low to high$384k to $530kpay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the Alberta median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isAccounting, marketing and operations courses; group projects; a co-op term if you pick the right stream.
What actually stops peopleEasy to get in. Hard to stand out at the end.
The downsideGeneric credential; outcomes depend almost entirely on co-op and networking.
If you're the parentAccessible and flexible, but your child needs a plan for what they will do with it. Pairing it with a specific skill (accounting, HR, logistics) matters.
Local opportunities in Alberta

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

Check my readiness

How to enter

What you need
  • No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up
Deadlines in Alberta
  • ApplyAlberta or direct; NAIT and SAIT competitive programs fill early, from October
  • Alberta Student Aid in spring

Next steps in Alberta

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In AlbertaDemand is an estimate (no single occupation). Earnings from Alberta graduate-outcomes data, older cohort inflated to today.
alis.alberta.ca

◐ Partly verified ALIS program page NAIT Business Administration 2025/26; Alberta Advanced Education graduate earnings report

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