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UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 2401

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 114 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$44,349 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.

$44,349Median year-4 earnings

$8,057Average institution net-price context

$9,500Median federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$44,349Median reported earnings · year 4

$42,860Average reported earnings · year 5

$9,500Median federal debt

37thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

114Reporting programs

100With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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: $44,349
Federal debt: $9,500
Reporting programs: 114

100 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $42,789
Federal debt: $11,000
Reporting programs: 997

969 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $52,545
Federal debt: $27,000
Reporting programs: 527

488 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $100,964
Federal debt: $28,249
Reporting programs: 2

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $67,332
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 35

35 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $64,895
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings: $53,722
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 25

25 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$39,656National median$44,34975th percentile$50,226

100 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Purdue University-Main Campus$105,733 2Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks$93,527 3Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$93,527 4Pennsylvania State University-World Campus$93,527 5Contra Costa College$73,885 6Howard College$68,723 7Indiana University-Bloomington$64,345 8Henry Ford College$64,309 9Berkeley City College$62,672 10Austin Community College District$59,907

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherSOC 25-1199 · 3 crosswalk linksNO MATCHSOC 99-9999 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES

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	$105,733	$17,917	Baseline needed	$14,600
2	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BerksUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Reading, PA	$93,527	$30,125	Baseline needed	$24,356
3	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	University Park, PA	$93,527	$30,125	Baseline needed	$32,875
4	Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	University Park, PA	$93,527	$30,125	Baseline needed	$19,550
5	Contra Costa CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Pablo, CA	$73,885	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,490
6	Howard CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Big Spring, TX	$68,723	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,147
7	Indiana University-BloomingtonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Bloomington, IN	$64,345	$20,500	Baseline needed	$16,264
8	Henry Ford CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Dearborn, MI	$64,309	$24,750	Baseline needed	$660
9	Berkeley City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Berkeley, CA	$62,672	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,096
10	Austin Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Austin, TX	$59,907	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,390
11	Florida State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Tallahassee, FL	$58,691	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,297
12	Central Arizona CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Coolidge, AZ	$58,439	$10,115	Baseline needed	$4,714
13	Bunker Hill Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Boston, MA	$55,170	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,818
14	Napa Valley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Napa, CA	$54,995	Not available	Baseline needed	$14,644
15	San Diego Miramar CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Diego, CA	$54,470	$6,500	Baseline needed	$3,337
16	Forsyth Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Winston-Salem, NC	$53,631	Not available	Baseline needed	$7,200
17	Salt Lake Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Salt Lake City, UT	$52,726	$6,625	Baseline needed	$9,804
18	East Los Angeles CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Monterey Park, CA	$52,595	$5,701	Baseline needed	$10,852
19	College of the CanyonsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Santa Clarita, CA	$52,488	$7,750	Baseline needed	$3,702
20	Gavilan CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Gilroy, CA	$51,938	$5,939	Baseline needed	$6,542
21	Cerritos CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Norwalk, CA	$51,842	Not available	Baseline needed	$2,424
22	NorthWest Arkansas Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Bentonville, AR	$51,796	$11,107	Baseline needed	$7,196
23	College of Southern MarylandUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	La Plata, MD	$50,845	$8,262	Baseline needed	$9,204
24	Crafton Hills CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Yucaipa, CA	$50,737	Not available	Baseline needed	$11,331
25	University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Milwaukee, WI	$50,342	$29,333	Baseline needed	$15,014
26	Cabrillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Aptos, CA	$50,226	$7,412	Baseline needed	$15,843
27	West Los Angeles CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Culver City, CA	$49,757	Not available	Baseline needed	$9,634
28	San Diego Mesa CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Diego, CA	$49,676	$6,125	Baseline needed	$5,814
29	Los Medanos CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pittsburg, CA	$49,121	$9,500	Baseline needed	$7,443
30	College of AlamedaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Alameda, CA	$48,794	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,496
31	Clackamas Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Oregon City, OR	$48,780	$13,915	Baseline needed	$7,855
32	Diablo Valley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pleasant Hill, CA	$47,992	$7,500	Baseline needed	$8,312
33	North Idaho CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$47,957	$11,103	Baseline needed	$10,575
34	Macomb Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Warren, MI	$47,697	Not available	Baseline needed	$1,618
35	Los Angeles Pierce CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Woodland Hills, CA	$47,676	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,270
36	Santiago Canyon CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Orange, CA	$47,522	$5,500	Baseline needed	$2,129
37	Los Angeles City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Los Angeles, CA	$47,305	$9,545	Baseline needed	$10,261
38	Hartnell CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Salinas, CA	$47,083	$6,500	Baseline needed	$2,039
39	Northern Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Annandale, VA	$46,886	$10,750	Baseline needed	$9,919
40	Brightpoint Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Chester, VA	$46,281	$8,750	Baseline needed	$5,490
41	Santa Ana CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Santa Ana, CA	$45,753	$7,227	Baseline needed	$3,133
42	Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Florence, SC	$45,552	Not available	Baseline needed	$2,004
43	J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Richmond, VA	$45,283	$11,000	Baseline needed	$5,168
44	Vincennes UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Vincennes, IN	$45,244	$12,000	Baseline needed	$11,225
45	Shasta CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Redding, CA	$45,118	$9,500	Baseline needed	$2,878
46	Germanna Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Locust Grove, VA	$45,085	$8,187	Baseline needed	$5,541
47	Tidewater Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Norfolk, VA	$45,052	$14,942	Baseline needed	$11,762
48	Coconino Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Flagstaff, AZ	$44,884	$10,750	Baseline needed	$13,996
49	Blue Ridge Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Weyers Cave, VA	$44,782	$8,250	Baseline needed	$13,997
50	Chaffey CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	$44,619	$6,625	Baseline needed	$5,672
51	San Diego City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	San Diego, CA	$44,078	$7,935	Baseline needed	$7,935
52	Los Angeles Southwest CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Los Angeles, CA	$44,022	Not available	Baseline needed	$5,964
53	Delgado Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	New Orleans, LA	$43,742	$23,952	Baseline needed	$9,747
54	Rappahannock Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Glenns, VA	$43,704	$6,333	Baseline needed	$4,343
55	Laurel Ridge Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Middletown, VA	$43,702	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,013
56	Northeast Iowa Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Calmar, IA	$43,610	$11,821	Baseline needed	$11,272
57	Paris Junior CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Paris, TX	$43,280	$6,575	Baseline needed	$7,690
58	Chesapeake CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Wye Mills, MD	$42,821	$5,500	Baseline needed	$5,106
59	Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hampton, VA	$42,746	$10,375	Baseline needed	$7,012
60	College of Western IdahoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Nampa, ID	$42,484	$12,000	Baseline needed	$8,500
61	York Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Rock Hill, SC	$42,477	$8,000	Baseline needed	$5,931
62	Edison State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Piqua, OH	$42,299	$12,799	Baseline needed	$7,142
63	Virginia Western Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Roanoke, VA	$42,073	$11,075	Baseline needed	$4,966
64	National Park CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Hot Springs, AR	$42,058	$15,500	Baseline needed	$12,720
65	Ivy Tech Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Indianapolis, IN	$41,962	$9,052	Baseline needed	$7,258
66	Piedmont Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Charlottesville, VA	$41,858	$9,250	Baseline needed	$5,963
67	Southwest Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Cedar Bluff, VA	$41,827	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,005
68	Los Angeles Harbor CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Wilmington, CA	$41,568	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,250
69	Los Angeles Valley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Valley Glen, CA	$41,282	$9,125	Baseline needed	$12,152
70	Southeast Arkansas CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Pine Bluff, AR	$41,272	$14,484	Baseline needed	$19,038
71	Mountain Gateway Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Clifton Forge, VA	$40,734	Not available	Baseline needed	$4,861
72	Cochise County Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Sierra Vista, AZ	$40,729	$9,750	Baseline needed	$7,929
73	Nicolet Area Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Rhinelander, WI	$40,509	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,255
74	Imperial Valley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Imperial, CA	$39,907	$6,176	Baseline needed	$1,115
75	Trident Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Charleston, SC	$39,732	$2,750	Baseline needed	$1,406
76	Mid Michigan CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Harrison, MI	$39,656	$14,100	Baseline needed	$8,370
77	Modesto Junior CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Modesto, CA	$39,531	$7,065	Baseline needed	$2,818
78	Merced CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Merced, CA	$39,525	$9,300	Baseline needed	$5,040
79	Victor Valley CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Victorville, CA	$39,197	$7,550	Baseline needed	$1,947
80	Lassen Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Susanville, CA	$39,151	Not available	Baseline needed	$12,517
81	Wytheville Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Wytheville, VA	$38,983	$9,375	Baseline needed	$4,622
82	Central Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Lynchburg, VA	$38,549	$9,705	Baseline needed	$6,928
83	Los Angeles Mission CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Sylmar, CA	$38,133	Not available	Baseline needed	$13,380
84	Antelope Valley Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Lancaster, CA	$37,904	Not available	Baseline needed	$3,860
85	University of Arkansas Community College-MorriltonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Morrilton, AR	$37,792	Not available	Baseline needed	$8,725
86	Southside Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Alberta, VA	$37,761	$5,500	Baseline needed	$5,338
87	Eastern Shore Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Melfa, VA	$36,755	Not available	Baseline needed	$2,495
88	Three Rivers CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Poplar Bluff, MO	$36,642	$8,875	Baseline needed	$8,496
89	Virginia Highlands Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Abingdon, VA	$36,485	$5,500	Baseline needed	$5,375
90	Paul D Camp Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Franklin, VA	$36,028	Not available	Baseline needed	$4,126
91	Patrick & Henry Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Martinsville, VA	$35,818	$7,500	Baseline needed	$4,102
92	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	North Little Rock, AR	$35,337	$14,750	Baseline needed	$14,327
93	University of Arkansas-East Arkansas Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Forrest City, AR	$34,929	$8,000	Baseline needed	$7,220
94	Lemoore CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Lemoore, CA	$34,843	$9,500	Baseline needed	$10,832
95	Coalinga CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Coalinga, CA	$34,822	$9,331	Baseline needed	$10,477
96	New River Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Dublin, VA	$34,615	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,279
97	Luna Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Las Vegas, NM	$33,903	Not available	Baseline needed	$4,595
98	East Mississippi Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Scooba, MS	$33,834	$9,875	Baseline needed	$4,608
99	James Sprunt Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Kenansville, NC	$30,388	Not available	Baseline needed	$1,863
100	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma	Orangeburg, SC	$29,602	Not available	Baseline needed	$6,186

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.