Human Computer Interaction at Full Sail University

Full Sail's HCI certificate lands graduates at $34,290 in their first year—well below the $45,270 national median for this program. While that places it in just the 5th percentile nationally, the Florida context tells a different story: this is actually the only school in the state offering this credential, making direct in-state comparisons impossible. The debt load of $18,250 is concerning, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of similar programs have lower debt), though the 0.53 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can theoretically pay this off within two years if they commit their entire first-year salary.

The real question is whether this certificate justifies its cost when top-performing programs nationally produce graduates earning $50,761—nearly 50% more. For a school serving a majority low-income population (57% receive Pell grants), these earnings gaps matter enormously. The moderate sample size gives us reasonable confidence in these numbers, but families should recognize that Full Sail is a for-profit institution where outcomes can vary significantly based on program.

Unless your child has compelling reasons to pursue this specific certificate at Full Sail—perhaps strong connections to the gaming industry in Orlando or unique program features—the combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt suggests looking at alternative pathways into tech, whether that's a traditional computer science degree or certificates at schools with stronger placement records.