Business/Commerce at Holy Cross College

A $35,000 first-year salary would be rough for most business certificate holders, but the relatively manageable $14,000 in estimated debt makes this program more defensible than the numbers first suggest. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, graduates from comparable programs could reasonably pay down their loans within two years of focused repayment—a significantly better position than many certificate programs nationally.

The challenge lies in context. While these estimates align with the national median for business certificates, Indiana's other programs tell a different story. The state median sits at $54,000, with Indiana University-Bloomington graduates earning over $71,000. Holy Cross's program appears designed for a different market—possibly students seeking foundational credentials before transferring or those combining the certificate with work experience. The school's 74% admission rate and $1,229 average SAT suggest it serves students who may not have access to flagship university programs.

For parents, the key question is whether this certificate serves as a stepping stone or an endpoint. If your child plans to use it as an entry point into the workforce while continuing education, the modest debt load provides flexibility. But if they're seeking competitive entry into Indiana's business sector, they'll be starting well behind peers from more established programs. The low debt makes this a relatively low-risk credential, but the earnings gap means it's unlikely to be transformative on its own.