The HEA Group

Certificate Program Graduate Earnings

Data reflect the earnings outcomes for graduates of certificate outcomes four years after completing their program.

Certificate Programs

Total Graduates

States + DC

Selected State

United States · Undergraduate Certificate Programs

Map color represents the average earnings premium above a typical high school graduate within each state. States with higher earnings premiums appear more gold, while lower premiums appear more blue.

Earnings Premium Legend

★★★★★More than $25,000 above typical high school graduate

★★★★☆$20,000–24,999 above typical high school graduate

★★★☆☆$10,000–19,999 above typical high school graduate

★★☆☆☆$5,000–9,999 above typical high school graduate

★☆☆☆☆$1–4,999 above typical high school graduate

☆☆☆☆☆Below typical high school graduate

Select a state from the dropdown menu to view and keep its statistics on the screen.

Certificate Programs Across the US.

Certificate Programs Most Likely to Deliver High Earnings Outcomes

Share of programs rated 5 stars, for majors with more than 10 offerings nationally. Calculations follow the benchmark assigned to each program in the source data.

Certificate Programs Most Likely to Leave Students Worse Off Financially

Share of programs rated 0 stars, for majors with more than 10 offerings nationally. Calculations follow the benchmark assigned to each program in the source data.

Most Popular Programs

Earnings and Earnings Premium calculated using one HS median per state.

Programs shown

Filtered certificate programs

Earnings

Weighted by graduates across filtered programs

HS Median

State HS Benchmark

Earnings Premium

Weighted by graduates vs HS median

Program-level results

Program-level Earnings Premium values follow the benchmark assigned to each program in the source data.

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Institution	State	Major	Graduates	Earnings	HS Median	Earnings Premium	Star Ratings

Notes

1. All data derived from the U.S. Department of Education. Pooled 2017–18 and 2018–19 completer cohorts; earnings measured in CY2022 and CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Includes all Title IV completers who are working and not enrolled in college four years after exiting the program.

2. The median income of individuals is defined as personal earnings from wages, salaries, and private business income, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars using CPI-U. Same-state data are derived from the 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, retrieved from IPUMS, and reflect individuals aged 25–34 living in the same state as the college, with only a high school degree (or equivalent), not enrolled in college, and employed with positive, non-zero income.

3. The national median income reflects individuals nationwide aged 25–34 with only a high school degree (or equivalent), not enrolled in college, and employed with positive, non-zero income.

4. For individual institutional comparisons, institutions where more than 50% of graduates are from out-of-state are compared to nationwide data.