Ground Transportation at Palm Beach State College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.22 suggests manageable borrowing, but the national estimates here obscure crucial local realities. Florida's ground transportation programs typically produce first-year earnings around $34,562—nearly $7,000 below the national figure used for this estimate. That gap matters when you're evaluating whether a certificate program justifies even modest debt. Palm Beach State's actual outcomes could fall anywhere within Florida's range, and without reported data from this specific program, you're essentially betting on where it lands.

The estimated $9,280 debt figure sits between state and national medians, which sounds reasonable until you consider that Florida State College at Jacksonville—the only Florida program with published data—reports that exact $34,562 earnings figure alongside $15,001 in typical debt. If Palm Beach State's program performs more like other Florida schools than the national average, graduates might face a tougher financial picture than these estimates suggest. Ground transportation careers can offer stable employment, particularly in South Florida's tourism and logistics sectors, but certificate holders often start at hourly wages that translate to earnings on the lower end of these ranges.

Before committing, find out whether Palm Beach State tracks job placement rates and starting wages for its ground transportation graduates. The 38% Pell grant population indicates the program serves many cost-conscious students, which could mean the school has designed it with affordability and quick employment in mind—or it could simply reflect who enrolls rather than how well they fare afterward.