Business Administration, Management and Operations: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 137 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$49,328 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.
$49,328Median year-4 earnings
$10,352Average institution net-price context
$14,600Median federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$49,328Median reported earnings · year 4
$52,405Average reported earnings · year 5
$14,600Median federal debt
47thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
137Reporting programs
125With 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
- $49,328
- Federal debt
- $14,600
- Reporting programs
- 137
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,685
- Federal debt
- $14,000
- Reporting programs
- 592
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $64,466
- Federal debt
- $26,000
- Reporting programs
- 1,282
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $140,589
- Federal debt
- $20,114
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $93,369
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 890
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $109,689
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 18
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $166,604
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $88,594
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 42
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $74,472
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 9
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$41,000National median$49,32875th percentile$62,970
125 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Georgia$111,3922Purdue University-Main Campus$89,7883Columbia Southern University$89,2034University of Maryland Global Campus$87,4475University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$82,8916Champlain College$79,3237Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton$79,2928Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver$79,2929Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$79,29210Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont Alto$79,292Observed 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.
Business Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1011 · 9 crosswalk linksManagers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 7 crosswalk linksAdministrative Services ManagersSOC 11-3012 · 4 crosswalk linksGeneral and Operations ManagersSOC 11-1021 · 4 crosswalk linksIndustrial Production ManagersSOC 11-3051 · 4 crosswalk linksMedical and Health Services ManagersSOC 11-9111 · 4 crosswalk linksFacilities ManagersSOC 11-3013 · 3 crosswalk linksFirst-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersSOC 43-1011 · 3 crosswalk linksLogisticiansSOC 13-1081 · 3 crosswalk linksNatural Sciences ManagersSOC 11-9121 · 3 crosswalk linksProject Management SpecialistsSOC 13-1082 · 3 crosswalk linksTransportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersSOC 11-3071 · 3 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 GeorgiaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Athens, GA | $111,392 | $19,500 | Baseline needed | $13,936 |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | West Lafayette, IN | $89,788 | $19,500 | Baseline needed | $14,600 |
| 3 | Columbia Southern UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Orange Beach, AL | $89,203 | $25,876 | Baseline needed | $14,580 |
| 4 | University of Maryland Global CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Adelphi, MD | $87,447 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,063 |
| 5 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Denver, CO | $82,891 | $19,901 | Baseline needed | $11,900 |
| 6 | Champlain CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Burlington, VT | $79,323 | $27,773 | Baseline needed | $35,860 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State ScrantonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Dunmore, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,910 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State BeaverUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Monaca, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,418 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | University Park, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $32,875 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont AltoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mont Alto, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,454 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Abington, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,071 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State SchuylkillUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Schuylkill Haven, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,659 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | University Park, PA | $79,292 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,550 |
| 14 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Minneapolis, MN | $76,515 | $20,984 | Baseline needed | $16,778 |
| 15 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tempe, AZ | $75,964 | $9,562 | Baseline needed | $14,967 |
| 16 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Scottsdale, AZ | $75,964 | $9,562 | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 17 | Columbus State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Columbus, OH | $71,615 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,400 |
| 18 | University of Minnesota-DuluthUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Duluth, MN | $70,868 | Not available | Baseline needed | $18,743 |
| 19 | Ferris State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Big Rapids, MI | $70,160 | $22,656 | Baseline needed | $8,624 |
| 20 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Stillwater, OK | $69,992 | Not available | Baseline needed | $17,447 |
| 21 | Laurel Ridge Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Middletown, VA | $69,420 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,013 |
| 22 | University of Phoenix-ArizonaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Phoenix, AZ | $68,591 | $12,928 | Baseline needed | $13,520 |
| 23 | Owensboro Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Owensboro, KY | $68,388 | $7,246 | Baseline needed | $5,800 |
| 24 | College of the CanyonsUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Santa Clarita, CA | $66,607 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,702 |
| 25 | Austin Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Austin, TX | $63,975 | $8,125 | Baseline needed | $6,390 |
| 26 | American Public University SystemUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Charles Town, WV | $63,677 | $18,708 | Baseline needed | $9,597 |
| 27 | Anne Arundel Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Arnold, MD | $63,253 | $13,250 | Baseline needed | $14,915 |
| 28 | University of IowaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Iowa City, IA | $62,970 | $26,033 | Baseline needed | $22,531 |
| 29 | Cerritos CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Norwalk, CA | $61,921 | $8,021 | Baseline needed | $2,424 |
| 30 | Minnesota State University MoorheadUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Moorhead, MN | $59,179 | $21,860 | Baseline needed | $17,997 |
| 31 | Bunker Hill Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boston, MA | $58,351 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,818 |
| 32 | College of DuPageUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Glen Ellyn, IL | $57,058 | $14,499 | Baseline needed | $7,401 |
| 33 | Madison Area Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Madison, WI | $57,022 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,238 |
| 34 | Northern Virginia Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Annandale, VA | $56,907 | $10,699 | Baseline needed | $9,919 |
| 35 | Boise State UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Boise, ID | $55,835 | $27,676 | Baseline needed | $21,610 |
| 36 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Vineland, NJ | $55,535 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,562 |
| 37 | Rowan College of South Jersey-Gloucester CampusUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sewell, NJ | $55,535 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,378 |
| 38 | Front Range Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Westminster, CO | $54,730 | $13,000 | Baseline needed | $13,031 |
| 39 | Virginia Peninsula Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Hampton, VA | $54,697 | $15,280 | Baseline needed | $7,012 |
| 40 | Riverside City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Riverside, CA | $54,689 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,377 |
| 41 | Phoenix CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Phoenix, AZ | $54,556 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,055 |
| 42 | Cleveland State Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Cleveland, TN | $54,057 | Not available | Baseline needed | $6,384 |
| 43 | Milwaukee Area Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Milwaukee, WI | $53,190 | $13,222 | Baseline needed | $9,112 |
| 44 | Northern Arizona UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Flagstaff, AZ | $53,149 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,158 |
| 45 | Northland Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Thief River Falls, MN | $53,115 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,975 |
| 46 | Dakota County Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Rosemount, MN | $52,903 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,548 |
| 47 | Arkansas Tech UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Russellville, AR | $52,624 | $29,535 | Baseline needed | $12,970 |
| 48 | Dallas CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Dallas, TX | $52,098 | $17,452 | Baseline needed | $3,214 |
| 49 | Western Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | La Crosse, WI | $52,028 | $17,054 | Baseline needed | $11,008 |
| 50 | McHenry County CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Crystal Lake, IL | $51,889 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,042 |
| 51 | Nicolet Area Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Rhinelander, WI | $51,767 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,255 |
| 52 | Maysville Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Maysville, KY | $51,629 | $20,089 | Baseline needed | $4,605 |
| 53 | Southeast Community College AreaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Lincoln, NE | $51,260 | Not available | Baseline needed | $9,171 |
| 54 | Minnesota State University-MankatoUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mankato, MN | $51,079 | Not available | Baseline needed | $19,139 |
| 55 | Northcentral Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Wausau, WI | $50,752 | $9,840 | Baseline needed | $10,303 |
| 56 | Lake Land CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mattoon, IL | $49,973 | Not available | Baseline needed | $2,254 |
| 57 | Western Kentucky UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Bowling Green, KY | $49,760 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,990 |
| 58 | Hillsborough CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tampa, FL | $49,749 | $14,933 | Baseline needed | $3,861 |
| 59 | Tarrant County College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fort Worth, TX | $49,328 | $16,000 | Baseline needed | $4,337 |
| 60 | Florida State College at JacksonvilleUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Jacksonville, FL | $48,636 | $17,134 | Baseline needed | $4,128 |
| 61 | Gateway Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Florence, KY | $48,177 | $13,000 | Baseline needed | $5,725 |
| 62 | Community College of AuroraUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Aurora, CO | $48,049 | $15,235 | Baseline needed | $8,656 |
| 63 | Wake Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Raleigh, NC | $47,383 | $19,000 | Baseline needed | $8,759 |
| 64 | Miami Dade CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Miami, FL | $47,194 | $8,750 | Baseline needed | $5,463 |
| 65 | Santa Ana CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Santa Ana, CA | $47,100 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,133 |
| 66 | Brightpoint Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Chester, VA | $46,788 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,490 |
| 67 | Blue Ridge Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Weyers Cave, VA | $46,237 | $11,500 | Baseline needed | $13,997 |
| 68 | GateWay Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Phoenix, AZ | $46,097 | Not available | Baseline needed | $13,339 |
| 69 | Daytona State CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Daytona Beach, FL | $45,982 | $13,821 | Baseline needed | $7,177 |
| 70 | Guilford Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Jamestown, NC | $45,955 | $21,719 | Baseline needed | $15,002 |
| 71 | Jefferson Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Louisville, KY | $45,896 | $11,770 | Baseline needed | $6,376 |
| 72 | Fresno City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fresno, CA | $45,823 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,069 |
| 73 | Amarillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Amarillo, TX | $45,793 | $17,500 | Baseline needed | $4,600 |
| 74 | Northeast Iowa Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Calmar, IA | $45,615 | $20,635 | Baseline needed | $11,272 |
| 75 | Marion Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Marion, OH | $45,496 | $9,004 | Baseline needed | $7,417 |
| 76 | Northeast Texas Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Mount Pleasant, TX | $44,814 | $14,500 | Baseline needed | $6,706 |
| 77 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Bowling Green, KY | $44,794 | $12,080 | Baseline needed | $3,537 |
| 78 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Elizabethtown, KY | $44,708 | $11,560 | Baseline needed | $5,143 |
| 79 | Central Carolina Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sanford, NC | $44,263 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,446 |
| 80 | Ivy Tech Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Indianapolis, IN | $43,703 | $10,125 | Baseline needed | $7,258 |
| 81 | Catawba Valley Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Hickory, NC | $43,380 | $8,573 | Baseline needed | $10,528 |
| 82 | Jackson CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Jackson, MI | $42,813 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,761 |
| 83 | Central Piedmont Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Charlotte, NC | $42,770 | $10,812 | Baseline needed | $3,345 |
| 84 | Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Davenport, IA | $42,526 | Not available | Baseline needed | $14,017 |
| 85 | Southwestern Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sylva, NC | $42,252 | Not available | Baseline needed | $5,207 |
| 86 | Pitt Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Winterville, NC | $41,867 | $21,625 | Baseline needed | $7,337 |
| 87 | Rowan-Cabarrus Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Salisbury, NC | $41,790 | $10,253 | Baseline needed | $7,981 |
| 88 | Lone Star College SystemUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | The Woodlands, TX | $41,600 | $10,015 | Baseline needed | $11,252 |
| 89 | Rhode Island CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Providence, RI | $41,384 | $19,500 | Baseline needed | $9,478 |
| 90 | Northeastern Junior CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sterling, CO | $41,000 | $9,500 | Baseline needed | $13,801 |
| 91 | Pima Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Tucson, AZ | $40,589 | Not available | Baseline needed | $3,405 |
| 92 | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Asheville, NC | $40,550 | $10,760 | Baseline needed | $11,602 |
| 93 | Somerset Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Somerset, KY | $40,411 | $15,805 | Baseline needed | $4,398 |
| 94 | Fayetteville Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fayetteville, NC | $40,278 | $14,699 | Baseline needed | $3,589 |
| 95 | Blinn College DistrictUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Brenham, TX | $40,225 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,844 |
| 96 | Forsyth Technical Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Winston-Salem, NC | $39,973 | $18,908 | Baseline needed | $7,200 |
| 97 | Carteret Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Morehead City, NC | $39,820 | Not available | Baseline needed | $10,764 |
| 98 | Lenoir Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Kinston, NC | $39,624 | Not available | Baseline needed | $4,127 |
| 99 | Indian River State CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fort Pierce, FL | $39,503 | $8,347 | Baseline needed | $3,815 |
| 100 | Albany Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Albany, GA | $39,072 | $15,435 | Baseline needed | $4,524 |
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.