Human Resources Management and Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Joliet Junior College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,304

Est. from national median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,532

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

A short-term HR credential that saddles students with over $21,000 in debt deserves serious scrutiny, especially when peer programs nationally typically carry $18,000 in debt and Illinois programs average even less at $17,700. While Joliet Junior College hasn't reported actual outcomes for this certificate program (likely due to small class sizes), comparable HR certificates across the country suggest first-year earnings around $46,000—producing a debt-to-earnings ratio that hovers near 0.5.

That ratio might sound manageable on paper, but here's the reality: you're looking at half a year's gross income in debt for a certificate program, not a bachelor's degree. Similar programs nationwide appear to be doing better at cost control, and the fact that this estimate comes from just 9 peer institutions nationally signals how uncommon it is for HR certificates to carry this much debt. For a community college credential designed to be an affordable entry point into the field, these numbers don't align with what families typically expect.

Before committing, get specific answers from Joliet about actual completion rates, job placement, and why the estimated debt runs significantly higher than state peers. A certificate should be a strategic, low-cost credential boost—not a $21,000 gamble based on uncertain data from other schools.

Where Joliet Junior College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Joliet Junior CollegeJoliet	$4,530	$46,304*	—	$21,532*	—
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh	$21,524	$64,711*	$81,611	$22,000*	0.34
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids	$13,630	$53,029*	$52,161	$27,921*	0.53
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis	$10,449	$51,570*	$56,585	$25,422*	0.49
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis	$16,488	$48,970*	$59,448	$21,532*	0.44
University of Phoenix-HawaiiKapolei	—	$46,304*	$63,337	$12,785*	0.28
National Median	—	$46,304*	—	$17,974*	0.39

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Joliet Junior College, approximately 23% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 13 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.