Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Bluegrass Community and Technical College

This certificate program comes with a significant caveat: fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. That said, the data we have suggests a relatively affordable path into business support roles. With debt of $13,698 and first-year earnings of $26,532, graduates carry roughly six months of salary in loans—manageable by community college standards and well below the national median debt for similar programs.

The earnings picture is more complicated. While Bluegrass beats the national median for business operations certificates by about $1,400, it falls slightly below Kentucky's state median of $26,607. Among the dozen Kentucky schools offering this credential, you'll find stronger performers: Interactive College of Technology-Newport graduates earn over $2,000 more annually. For a parent evaluating in-state options, it's worth asking why this program lags other Kentucky alternatives when its debt load is higher.

The real question is whether an undergraduate certificate provides enough credential value in today's job market. At $26,532, these graduates earn less than the median for all Kentucky workers. If your child is already working in an administrative role and needs a quick credential boost, the low debt makes sense. But if this is a stepping stone to a bachelor's degree, understand that you're paying for training that might not significantly move the earnings needle on its own.