General Sales, Merchandising at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Campus

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50 suggests manageable loan burden, but both figures here are national estimates since Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell hasn't had enough graduates report outcomes to publish actual data. That means we're working with broad averages: $41,009 in first-year earnings and $20,500 in debt from comparable sales and merchandising certificate programs nationwide. For context, retail and sales positions in New Mexico often pay less than the national average, so the actual earnings for this specific program could fall short of these estimates.

The real question is whether a certificate makes financial sense when many retail management positions don't require one. Similar programs across the country show wide variation—the top quarter earn $57,524 or more, suggesting some graduates land solid roles, but there's no way to know where Roswell's program falls in that range. With only four New Mexico schools offering this credential and none reporting public data, parents are flying blind on local outcomes.

If your student is already working in retail and needs credentials for advancement, a certificate with modest estimated debt might work. But without concrete evidence that Roswell's program leads to higher earnings than entering the workforce directly, you're essentially betting that local employer relationships and job placement will beat the odds. Ask the school directly about placement rates and starting salaries for their actual graduates before committing.