Business/Commerce, General: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 26 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$43,651 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$43,651Median year-4 earnings
$12,755Average institution net-price context
$14,094Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$43,651Median reported earnings · year 4
$55,404Average reported earnings · year 5
$14,094Median federal debt
34thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
26Reporting programs
18With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $43,651
- Federal debt
- $14,094
- Reporting programs
- 26
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,628
- Federal debt
- $17,500
- Reporting programs
- 223
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $65,292
- Federal debt
- $26,290
- Reporting programs
- 293
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $134,050
- Federal debt
- $15,725
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $106,812
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 77
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $107,902
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $92,953
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $113,127
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,817
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$43,651National median$43,65175th percentile$51,285
18 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
21 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, WI · PublicYear-4 earnings$118,137Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$15,0142Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$105,106Federal debt$19,500Annual net price$16,2643Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmond, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$58,235Federal debt$23,250Annual net price$23,4334Cabrillo CollegeAptos, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$54,690Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$15,8435Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis, IN · PublicYear-4 earnings$53,713Federal debt$24,500Annual net price$11,6686Boise State UniversityBoise, ID · PublicYear-4 earnings$51,285Federal debt$27,298Annual net price$21,6107Riverland Community CollegeAustin, MN · PublicYear-4 earnings$50,931Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$7,4278West Virginia University at ParkersburgParkersburg, WV · PublicYear-4 earnings$44,675Federal debt$16,316Annual net price$1,8079Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain, CT · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,651Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$11,51310Phoenix CollegePhoenix, AZ · PublicYear-4 earnings$43,199Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$12,05511Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia, SC · PublicYear-4 earnings$38,039Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$4,64712East Mississippi Community CollegeScooba, MS · PublicYear-4 earnings$36,377Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$4,60813Plaza CollegeForest Hills, NY · Private for-profitYear-4 earnings$33,630Federal debt$8,114Annual net price$19,86014Quinsigamond Community CollegeWorcester, MA · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$19,480Annual net price$9,09015Bryant & Stratton College-AlbanyAlbany, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$12,44316Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloBuffalo, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$14,13517Bryant & Stratton College-GreeceRochester, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$11,50318Bryant & Stratton College-ParmaParma, OH · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$12,84919Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachVirginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$12,03820Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaWauwatosa, WI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$14,85821Bryant & Stratton College-OnlineOrchard Park, NY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$14,094Annual net price$15,187
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$118,1372Indiana University-Bloomington$105,1063Virginia Commonwealth University$58,2354Cabrillo College$54,6905Indiana University-Indianapolis$53,7136Boise State University$51,2857Riverland Community College$50,9318West Virginia University at Parkersburg$44,6759Connecticut State Community College$43,65110Phoenix College$43,199Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Administrative Services ManagersSOC 11-3012 · 1 crosswalk linksAppraisers of Personal and Business PropertySOC 13-2022 · 1 crosswalk linksBusiness Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksChief ExecutivesSOC 11-1011 · 1 crosswalk linksConstruction ManagersSOC 11-9021 · 1 crosswalk linksCost EstimatorsSOC 13-1051 · 1 crosswalk linksEntertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingSOC 11-9072 · 1 crosswalk linksFacilities ManagersSOC 11-3013 · 1 crosswalk linksGeneral and Operations ManagersSOC 11-1021 · 1 crosswalk linksIndustrial Production ManagersSOC 11-3051 · 1 crosswalk linksManagement AnalystsSOC 13-1111 · 1 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Milwaukee, WI | $118,137 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,014 |
| 2 | Indiana University-BloomingtonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Bloomington, IN | $105,106 | $19,500 | Baseline needed | $16,264 |
| 3 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Richmond, VA | $58,235 | $23,250 | Baseline needed | $23,433 |
| 4 | Cabrillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Aptos, CA | $54,690 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,843 |
| 5 | Indiana University-IndianapolisUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Indianapolis, IN | $53,713 | $24,500 | Baseline needed | $11,668 |
| 6 | Boise State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boise, ID | $51,285 | $27,298 | Baseline needed | $21,610 |
| 7 | Riverland Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Austin, MN | $50,931 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,427 |
| 8 | West Virginia University at ParkersburgUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Parkersburg, WV | $44,675 | $16,316 | Baseline needed | $1,807 |
| 9 | Connecticut State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | New Britain, CT | $43,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | $11,513 |
| 10 | Phoenix CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Phoenix, AZ | $43,199 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,055 |
| 11 | Midlands Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | West Columbia, SC | $38,039 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,647 |
| 12 | East Mississippi Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Scooba, MS | $36,377 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,608 |
| 13 | Plaza CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Forest Hills, NY | $33,630 | $8,114 | Baseline needed | $19,860 |
| 14 | Quinsigamond Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Worcester, MA | Not available | $19,480 | Baseline needed | $9,090 |
| 15 | Bryant & Stratton College-AlbanyUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Albany, NY | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $12,443 |
| 16 | Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Buffalo, NY | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $14,135 |
| 17 | Bryant & Stratton College-GreeceUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Rochester, NY | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $11,503 |
| 18 | Bryant & Stratton College-ParmaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Parma, OH | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $12,849 |
| 19 | Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Virginia Beach, VA | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $12,038 |
| 20 | Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Wauwatosa, WI | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $14,858 |
| 21 | Bryant & Stratton College-OnlineUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Orchard Park, NY | Not available | $14,094 | Baseline needed | $15,187 |
| 22 | Asnuntuck Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $43,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 23 | Middlesex Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $43,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 24 | Three Rivers Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $43,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 25 | Connecticut State Community College GatewayUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $43,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 26 | Connecticut State Community College TunxisUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | , | $43,651 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.