Geography and Cartography at Arizona State University Campus Immersion

This certificate's numbers sit right at the median nationally, but that small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—makes it hard to draw firm conclusions about what you can expect. The $41,627 starting salary matches both the national and Arizona medians exactly, suggesting typical outcomes for this type of credential.

The concerning part is the debt load. At nearly $20,000, graduates are borrowing significantly more than the national median ($22,197 is typical, but many programs come in much lower). For a certificate—typically a shorter, more affordable credential than a degree—this feels steep. A 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't disastrous, but it means your child would be dedicating roughly half their first year's salary to paying off what's meant to be a quick, targeted credential.

Given Arizona State's 90% admission rate and the modest earning potential here, this makes most sense as a supplemental credential for someone already working in a related field, not as a standalone investment. If your child is considering this as their primary qualification for entering the workforce, the debt burden relative to the certificate format should make you ask hard questions about whether a full degree program—despite taking longer—might offer better long-term value. The earnings don't suggest this certificate alone opens doors to significantly higher-paying positions.