Human Services at Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo

Bryant & Stratton College-Buffalo's Human Services certificate produces graduates earning $22,878 their first year out—a figure that places them at the 95th percentile nationally but only the 60th percentile within New York. This gap tells an important story: while this program significantly outperforms most certificate programs across the country, New York's human services job market creates a higher bar, and half of in-state programs deliver similar or better results.

The debt picture looks manageable at first glance. Graduating with $16,248 in debt means you'd owe about 71% of your first year's salary—well below typical bachelor's degree ratios. However, context matters here. You're taking on substantial debt for a credential that leads to earnings just under $23,000 annually, which translates to real financial constraints even with a reasonable debt-to-earnings ratio. With two-thirds of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are already operating on tight budgets.

This certificate works best for someone who needs credentials quickly to enter the workforce and has realistic expectations about entry-level human services pay. If your child is choosing between this and a bachelor's degree with comparable debt, the four-year option typically offers more long-term earning potential. But if they need to start working soon or are building on existing experience, this provides a nationally competitive credential at a price that won't trap them in unmanageable debt.