Education, General: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 2 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$58,162 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.
$58,162Median year-4 earnings
$12,531Average institution net-price context
$14,250Median federal debt
Four useful answers about Education, General
How much do Education, General undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?
The national median is $58,162 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $14,250. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Education, General?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $48,863 to $48,863 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Education, General?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$58,162Median reported earnings · year 4
Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5
$14,250Median federal debt
66thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
16IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
2With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 1 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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
- $58,162
- Federal debt
- $14,250
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $42,127
- Federal debt
- $11,025
- Reporting programs
- 34
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,250
- Federal debt
- $26,525
- Reporting programs
- 88
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,429
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,909
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 217
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,543
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 36
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $83,429
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,300
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 8
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,656
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 12
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$48,863National median$58,16275th percentile$48,863
2 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.
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 2 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
2 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Purdue University-Main Campus$67,4602Southern Utah University$48,863Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Education Teachers, Postsecondary$75,350 median wage60,830 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1081+2.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 5.3k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$39,530–$126,860 10th–90th percentileTeaching Assistants, Preschool, Elementary, Middle, and Secondary School, Except Special EducationUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9042Teaching Assistants, Special EducationUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 25-9043
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
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 | Purdue University-Main CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | West Lafayette, IN | $67,460 | $20,500 | WithheldBaseline needed | $14,600 |
| 2 | Southern Utah UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Cedar City, UT | $48,863 | $8,000 | WithheldBaseline needed | $10,462 |
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.