Human Resources Management and Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at University of California-Los Angeles

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,304

Est. from national median (13 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,532

Est. from national median (9 programs)

Analysis

A certificate in HR from UCLA comes with an estimated $21,532 in debt—substantially higher than California's typical $11,799 for similar programs and above the national median of $17,974. While UCLA's prestige is undeniable, peer programs in this field suggest first-year earnings around $46,304, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 that's workable but not exceptional for a certificate-level credential.

The challenge here is that most HR certificate programs in California appear to prepare students for similar entry-level positions regardless of institutional brand. The University of Phoenix's HR certificate, for instance, shows identical estimated earnings despite likely charging less. For a short-term certificate rather than a four-year degree, you're not getting the full UCLA experience or alumni network benefits that might justify premium costs—this is typically a focused, professional credential designed for quick workforce entry or career transitions.

At this debt level, your child would face manageable monthly payments of roughly $240 for ten years, consuming about 6% of gross income based on comparable program outcomes. That's sustainable, but given that eight California schools offer this certificate and most appear to lead to similar earning potential, it's worth comparing actual costs before committing. If UCLA's program costs significantly more than state alternatives, the premium may not translate into better job prospects for this particular credential type.

Where University of California-Los Angeles Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Human Resources Management and Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (8 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles	$13,747	$46,304*	—	$21,532*	—
University of Phoenix-CaliforniaOntario	—	$46,304*	$63,337	$12,785*	0.28
San Joaquin Valley College-VisaliaVisalia	—	$40,721*	$43,315	$10,813*	0.27
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 University of California-Los Angeles, 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.