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 sits in reasonable territory for a certificate program, though it's worth understanding what you're working with here. Both the earnings and debt figures come from peer programs nationally—Southern Crescent Technical College's cohort was too small for the Department of Education to publish specific outcomes. Similar HR certificate programs typically produce first-year earnings around $46,000, with graduates carrying roughly $21,500 in debt. That's manageable relative to income, but it's also higher debt than the national median for this credential type, which sits closer to $18,000.

The practical question is whether this certificate delivers enough career acceleration to justify borrowing. HR roles often value experience and specific certifications (like SHRM-CP) alongside formal education, and an undergraduate certificate typically serves as either an entry point or a credential stacking opportunity rather than a complete degree. If your child already has work experience or plans to continue their education, this could be a tactical stepping stone. If they're starting from scratch with no connections in the field, they'll need to be proactive about internships and networking to convert the credential into actual opportunity.

Given the estimation uncertainty and the competitive nature of entry-level HR positions in Georgia, treat this as a calculated risk rather than a sure bet. The debt load is modest enough that it won't derail their financial future, but they'll need to hustle to make the credential pay off quickly.

Where Southern Crescent Technical College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Human Resources Management and Services certificate's programs at top institutions nationally

Scroll to see more →

SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Southern Crescent Technical CollegeGriffin$3,126$46,304*$21,532*
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh$21,524$64,711*$81,611$22,000*0.34
Ferris State UniversityBig Rapids$13,630$53,029*$52,161$27,921*0.53
Indiana University-IndianapolisIndianapolis$10,449$51,570*$56,585$25,422*0.49
University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis$16,488$48,970*$59,448$21,532*0.44
University of Phoenix-HawaiiKapolei$46,304*$63,337$12,785*0.28
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 Southern Crescent Technical College, approximately 49% 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.