Finance and Financial Management Services at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

NC State's post-baccalaureate certificate in finance produces striking outcomes, but the data warrants careful interpretation. With median earnings of $107,359 just one year out and debt of only $21,937, graduates achieve a 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio—essentially paying off their credential in about 10 weeks of salary. That ranks in the 95th percentile nationally for earnings and 5th percentile for debt, placing this among the most favorable financial outcomes for any post-bac certificate program.

However, two factors complicate this rosy picture. First, the sample size is extremely small—under 30 graduates—which means a few high earners can skew the entire dataset. Second, NC State is the only school in North Carolina reporting data for this credential, making state-level comparisons impossible and raising questions about how representative these outcomes are. The 60th percentile ranking within North Carolina (versus 95th nationally) suggests there may be other strong finance programs in the state that simply aren't captured in the federal data.

For families considering this certificate, the investment looks sound *if* these numbers hold at scale. The credential appears designed for career-changers or those seeking specialized finance skills, and at this price point with these earnings, it's hard to argue against. Just recognize you're making a decision with limited peer comparisons—what works for 30 graduates may not scale predictably.