Business Administration, Management and Operations at Austin Community College District

The $8,125 in debt here is remarkably low—sitting in the 95th percentile nationally means 95% of similar programs saddle students with more debt. That's a genuine advantage for a certificate program where minimal borrowing matters more than any credential typically does. Based on comparable business certificate programs in Texas, first-year earnings around $38,000 suggest this credential positions graduates near the middle of the state's range for these programs, which spans from roughly $34,000 to nearly $50,000.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21 means graduates would owe roughly 2.5 months of their first-year salary—manageable by almost any standard. However, the earnings estimate comes from just six peer programs statewide, which means there's real uncertainty about where Austin Community College graduates specifically land. The wide spread among Texas programs—nearly $15,000 between top and bottom performers—shows that not all business certificates deliver equally. Without knowing whether this program tracks closer to Dallas College's $46,000 outcomes or Amarillo College's $34,000 results, the return on investment remains genuinely unclear.

If your child can complete this certificate with debt near $8,000, the financial risk is contained regardless of where earnings fall within that range. But confirm what actual graduates from this specific program are doing post-completion—career services should be able to provide employment outcomes even if the Department of Education cannot.