Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at University of Georgia

This Management Sciences certificate at UGA sits in an unusual spot: it underperforms nationally but represents the median program within Georgia. With just three schools offering this credential in-state and a small graduating class (under 30 students), these numbers tell us more about Georgia's limited certificate landscape than about UGA's specific program quality. The $62,951 starting salary falls $5,000 below the national median, yet the 60th state percentile ranking suggests UGA is actually the stronger of Georgia's few options. The debt load of $23,725 translates to a reasonable 0.38 ratio, meaning graduates owe less than five months of their first-year salary.

The real question is whether this certificate format makes sense at all. Strong earnings growth—from $63K to $78K over four years—indicates the skills have market value, but the 5th national percentile suggests other schools prepare students better for immediate employment. The small sample size compounds the uncertainty: these figures could shift dramatically year to year as just a handful of graduates enter different industries or roles.

For Georgia families specifically, if you're set on this type of credential and want to stay in-state, UGA appears to be your best bet among limited options. But the broader picture suggests exploring full degree programs in analytics, operations, or related fields that show stronger national outcomes and offer more robust data to evaluate.