Est. Earnings (1yr)
$39,085
Est. from national median (76 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$14,816
Est. from national median (72 programs)

Analysis

A business management certificate that costs an estimated $14,816 and leads to earnings around $39,000 warrants careful consideration, especially when the actual outcomes for Lander's specific program remain unknown. These figures come from national medians across similar certificate programs, giving us a reasonable baseline but not definitive insight into how this particular program performs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38 suggests manageable repayment—comparable programs typically produce a debt load students can handle on a business management salary—but that's assuming Lander's graduates match these national patterns.

South Carolina has 13 schools offering business management certificates, yet none report sufficient graduate data for comparison, which means we can't assess whether Lander sits above or below regional norms. For a school where 40% of students receive Pell grants, accessibility matters, but so does return on investment. The question becomes whether a sub-baccalaureate business credential provides adequate career traction in the Greenwood area or if students would be better served completing a full degree.

Without actual earnings data from Lander's own graduates, this remains a leap of faith. If this certificate serves as a stepping stone toward a bachelor's degree or addresses a specific local employer need, the modest debt burden keeps risk contained. As a standalone credential banking on $39,000 salaries, verify those outcomes materialize before committing.

Where Lander University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business administration, management and operations certificate's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Business Administration, Management and Operations certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Lander UniversityGreenwood$11,700$39,085*$14,816*
University of GeorgiaAthens$11,180$77,610*$86,227$19,500*0.25
Purdue University-Main CampusWest Lafayette$9,992$71,977*$61,570$19,500*0.27
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$66,278*$18,250*0.28
Northcentral Technical CollegeWausau$3,861$60,405*$39,431$9,840*0.16
Oklahoma State University-Main CampusStillwater$10,234$58,087**
National Median$39,085*$14,699*0.38
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business administration, management and operations graduates

Computer and Information Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming.

$171,200/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Architectural and Engineering Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as architecture and engineering or research and development in these fields.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers

Define, plan, or execute biofuels/biodiesel research programs that evaluate alternative feedstock and process technologies with near-term commercial potential.

$167,740/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Financial Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Treasurers and Controllers

Direct financial activities, such as planning, procurement, and investments for all or part of an organization.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Investment Fund Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate investment strategy or operations for a large pool of liquid assets supplied by institutional investors or individual investors.

$161,700/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

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

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/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 Lander University, approximately 40% 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 76 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.