Educational/Instructional Media Design: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?
National picture across 4 reporting college programs.
$76,444 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.
Observed national outcomes
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.
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $34,994
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,414
- Federal debt
- $37,758
- Reporting programs
- 3
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $59,669
- Federal debt
- $19,294
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,246
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 83
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,077
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $76,444
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 4
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.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1George Mason University$88,8702University of North Carolina at Charlotte$88,0543University of Memphis$64,8334Michigan State University$64,738Observed 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.
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 | George Mason UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | Fairfax, VA | $88,870 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,915 |
| 2 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteGraduate/Professional Certificate | Charlotte, NC | $88,054 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,435 |
| 3 | University of MemphisGraduate/Professional Certificate | Memphis, TN | $64,833 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,397 |
| 4 | Michigan State UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate | East Lansing, MI | $64,738 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,680 |
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.