Human Resources Management and Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Columbia Southern University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,304

Est. from national median (13 programs)

Median Debt

$23,906

33% above national median

Analysis

Columbia Southern's HR certificate carries an estimated $23,906 in debt—substantially above the national median of $17,974 for similar programs. With first-year earnings around $46,000 based on comparable programs nationwide, graduates would be looking at a debt burden of about 52% of their initial salary, which is manageable but not particularly advantageous compared to peer programs that typically leave students with less debt.

The earnings trajectory tells a more modest story. While similar HR certificates nationally produce first-year earnings near $46,000, this program's four-year earnings of roughly $50,600 suggest limited salary growth early in graduates' careers. That's typical for entry-level HR positions, which often require additional credentials or experience to advance into better-paying roles. The higher-than-average debt becomes more concerning when paired with this slow earnings progression.

For parents, the question is whether this specific certificate justifies nearly $24,000 in borrowing when the national landscape shows you can access similar HR training for $6,000 less. If your child already has work experience that this credential would enhance, or if Columbia Southern's online format solves a significant logistical challenge, the premium might make sense. Otherwise, the debt-to-value calculation here leans unfavorable compared to what peer programs typically deliver.

Where Columbia Southern University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Columbia Southern University	—	$50,597	—
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus	$64,711	$81,611	+26%
University of Phoenix-Hawaii	$46,304	$63,337	+37%
University of Phoenix-Arizona	$46,304	$63,337	+37%
University of Phoenix-California	$46,304	$63,337	+37%

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach	$5,808	$46,304*	$50,597	$23,906	—
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh	$21,524	$64,711*	$81,611	$22,000	0.34
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$53,029*	$52,161	$27,921	0.53
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis	$10,449	$51,570*	$56,585	$25,422	0.49
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis	$16,488	$48,970*	$59,448	$21,532	0.44
University of Phoenix-HawaiiKapolei	—	$46,304*	$63,337	$12,785	0.28
National Median	—	$46,304*	—	$17,974	0.39

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Columbia Southern University, approximately 21% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 13 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.