Human Services, General: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 12 reporting college programs.
$29,382 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.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $29,382
- Federal debt
- $16,248
- Reporting programs
- 12
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,247
- Federal debt
- $20,441
- Reporting programs
- 83
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $48,799
- Federal debt
- $31,549
- Reporting programs
- 106
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,277
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 23
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,005
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $52,538
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
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.
1Fresno City College$45,8012Cabrillo College$44,0523Lake Area Technical College$34,1884Quinsigamond Community College$32,5105Florence-Darlington Technical College$31,4736Purdue University Global$30,6647Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo$28,0998Bryant & Stratton College-Parma$28,0999Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach$28,09910Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa$28,099Observed 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 | Fresno City CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Fresno, CA | $45,801 | Not available | Baseline needed | $8,069 |
| 2 | Cabrillo CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Aptos, CA | $44,052 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,843 |
| 3 | Lake Area Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Watertown, SD | $34,188 | Not available | Baseline needed | $15,979 |
| 4 | Quinsigamond Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Worcester, MA | $32,510 | $17,305 | Baseline needed | $9,090 |
| 5 | Florence-Darlington Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Florence, SC | $31,473 | Not available | Baseline needed | $2,004 |
| 6 | Purdue University GlobalUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | West Lafayette, IN | $30,664 | $15,532 | Baseline needed | $7,770 |
| 7 | Bryant & Stratton College-BuffaloUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Buffalo, NY | $28,099 | $16,248 | Baseline needed | $14,135 |
| 8 | Bryant & Stratton College-ParmaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Parma, OH | $28,099 | $16,248 | Baseline needed | $12,849 |
| 9 | Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia BeachUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Virginia Beach, VA | $28,099 | $16,248 | Baseline needed | $12,038 |
| 10 | Bryant & Stratton College-WauwatosaUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Wauwatosa, WI | $28,099 | $16,248 | Baseline needed | $14,858 |
| 11 | Bryant & Stratton College-OnlineUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Orchard Park, NY | $28,099 | $16,248 | Baseline needed | $15,187 |
| 12 | Mount Wachusett Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Gardner, MA | $26,085 | $6,550 | Baseline needed | $7,931 |
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.