Ground Transportation at Florida State College at Jacksonville

Florida State College at Jacksonville's ground transportation certificate sits in an interesting middle ground. While first-year earnings of $34,562 land in just the 24th percentile nationally, that's actually the median for Florida programs—meaning half of similar programs in the state produce lower earnings. The state's transportation job market appears fundamentally different from national patterns, where typical graduates earn $41,414. More importantly, this program keeps debt exceptionally low at $15,001 (5th percentile nationally), resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43.

The tradeoff here is clear: you're trading lower absolute earnings for significantly less debt risk. A graduate could realistically pay off their certificate in less than six months of gross earnings, which is rare in higher education. The 33% Pell grant rate suggests the school serves students who may be particularly debt-averse or need to enter the workforce quickly. For a parent weighing this against higher-earning programs that carry $20,000-30,000 in debt, this represents a lower-risk pathway into transportation careers, even if the ceiling isn't particularly high. The question becomes whether your child values a quick, affordable entry point over maximum earning potential.