Accounting at Herzing University-Atlanta

This accounting certificate presents a worrying pattern that's hard to ignore: graduates earn $31,620 in their first year but see incomes drop to $26,473 by year four—a 16% decline when most careers are climbing. While the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, the trend runs counter to how accounting credentials typically perform. Among Georgia's 30 accounting certificate programs, this one sits below the state median of $36,264, landing at the 40th percentile. Other Atlanta-area programs show significantly stronger outcomes.

The debt load adds another concern. At $24,252, graduates carry nearly twice the national median debt for this credential type (though it matches the state median), resulting in a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77. Paying down that debt becomes especially challenging if earnings continue declining rather than growing with experience. The school serves predominantly Pell-eligible students (68%), so these outcomes matter greatly for families with limited financial cushion.

Given the downward earnings trajectory and below-median state performance, families should seriously question whether this specific certificate justifies the investment—particularly when other Georgia programs in the same field demonstrate stronger results. The small sample size offers a slim possibility these numbers don't reflect typical outcomes, but right now, the data suggests caution.