Human Resources Management and Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at South Mountain Community 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 debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47—based on peer HR certificate programs nationally—suggests this credential could be manageable financially, though the estimated $21,532 in debt is notably higher than what similar programs typically produce. The national median debt for these certificates sits at $17,974, and other Arizona schools report even lower figures around $13,930. That gap matters for a certificate program that, by design, should get students into the workforce quickly without the debt load of a longer degree.

The estimated first-year earnings of $46,304 align closely with what comparable Arizona programs produce, suggesting this credential can provide entry into HR roles. However, the debt premium raises questions about whether this specific program requires borrowing significantly more than alternatives. For a certificate—meant to be a faster, leaner path than a bachelor's degree—accumulating over $20,000 in debt weakens the value proposition, especially when students could potentially achieve similar outcomes elsewhere at lower cost.

Given the uncertainty around these estimates and the apparent debt premium, parents should investigate why borrowing might be higher here and whether South Mountain offers advantages that justify it. If your student can complete this credential with minimal or no loans, the earnings potential makes sense. But if financing the full estimated amount, exploring lower-debt alternatives in Arizona's HR certificate landscape would be prudent before committing.

Where South Mountain Community College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Arizona

Human Resources Management and Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Arizona (11 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
South Mountain Community CollegePhoenix	$2,358	$46,304*	—	$21,532*	—
University of Phoenix-ArizonaPhoenix	$9,552	$46,304*	$63,337	$12,785*	0.28
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff	$12,652	$45,055*	—	—*	—
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 South Mountain Community College, approximately 27% 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.