Accounting at Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College's accounting certificate graduates earn nearly $8,000 more than Florida's median for this credential—a meaningful edge in a state with 50 competing programs. The $39,076 first-year salary ranks in the 78th percentile nationally and 60th percentile statewide, though it's worth noting the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so individual outcomes may vary more than these numbers suggest.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $18,445, which sits below the national 29th percentile (meaning lower than most programs) and translates to a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio. For context, graduates earning $39,000 should be able to manage monthly payments of roughly $200-250 on a standard repayment plan. While you could find cheaper options in Florida—Pinellas Technical College shows just $19,904 in earnings but likely with minimal debt—HCC appears to offer better earning potential at a manageable cost.

The real question is whether an undergraduate certificate provides enough career runway. If your child plans to pursue a bachelor's degree or CPA licensure later, this could serve as a practical entry point into accounting work while keeping debt low. If this is the terminal degree, verify that local Tampa employers value this credential for the accounting roles your child wants.