Business Administration, Management and Operations at The University of Texas at Arlington

A business certificate with estimated earnings around $38,000 and debt at $15,250 puts this program right at the Texas median—but that's based on comparable programs across the state, not actual outcomes from UT Arlington's certificate holders. The 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable repayment if those estimates hold true, though peer programs in Texas show a wide range: some community colleges are producing graduates earning $46,000+, while others cluster in the mid-$30,000s. Without reported data specific to UT Arlington, it's hard to know where this program actually falls on that spectrum.

The challenge with undergraduate business certificates is that earnings often depend heavily on whether students already have work experience or use the credential to pivot careers. Similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $39,000, so the Texas estimate isn't out of line. But when Dallas College and Tarrant County College—institutions serving similar populations—report actual outcomes in the mid-$40,000s for their certificate holders, that gap matters.

For parents, the key question is whether a certificate from UT Arlington opens different doors than one from a less expensive community college nearby. Given that the data here are estimates and strong programs exist at lower price points, get specific: talk to employers in your child's target field and ask recent certificate holders what doors actually opened for them.