Business Operations Support and Assistant Services at Rasmussen University-North Dakota

This certificate program reports earnings nearly 30% above the national median for business operations support programs, placing it in the 95th percentile nationwide—an impressive figure. However, the story gets considerably less clear when you look closer: within North Dakota, this same program sits at just the 60th percentile, suggesting the strong numbers may reflect North Dakota's broader economy rather than exceptional program quality. More concerning, the sample size here is tiny (under 30 graduates), which means these figures could shift dramatically with just a few data points.

The debt load of $16,722 is modest in absolute terms—you could finance this with a reliable used car loan—and represents just half of first-year earnings. That's a manageable ratio, though the debt is notably higher than the $9,500 national median for similar certificates. For a program serving nearly half its students from Pell-eligible families, keeping certificate debt below $20,000 matters.

If your child is committed to staying in North Dakota and needs office skills quickly, this could work as a stepping stone. But the minimal earnings growth (just 4% over four years) and the small sample size mean you're essentially betting on one or two years of data. Before committing, compare this directly to other certificate programs at North Dakota State College of Science or community colleges that might offer similar office credentials at lower cost.