Animal Sciences at Stautzenberger College-Brecksville

The rankings tell an unusual story here: Stautzenberger-Brecksville's Animal Sciences certificate ranks in the 95th percentile nationally but only the 60th percentile within Ohio. That's not actually a contradiction—it reflects how concentrated high-quality animal science programs are in the state. With just three schools offering this certificate in Ohio, all posting identical median outcomes ($20,690 earnings, $17,480 debt), this program matches the state's ceiling rather than falling below it.

The debt load deserves scrutiny. At $17,480 for a certificate program, graduates are borrowing nearly as much as a full associate degree might cost, resulting in debt that equals 84% of first-year earnings. For context, that's actually manageable compared to many certificate programs—the 5th percentile national debt ranking indicates this program costs significantly less than most peers. Still, $20,690 in annual earnings translates to roughly $10 per hour, which will make repayment tight even with the relatively low debt burden. The 64% Pell Grant rate suggests many students here are already financially stretched.

This certificate makes most sense as a stepping stone rather than a destination—perhaps for someone already working with animals who needs credentials to advance, or as a foundation before pursuing additional education. The economics work better than most animal science certificates nationally, but the absolute earnings level means graduates will need either additional income sources or a clear path to higher credentials to make this investment pay off comfortably.