Business/Commerce at Virginia Commonwealth University

Starting at less than $29,000 after earning a business certificate from VCU should concern any parent considering this investment. While the program ranks at the 60th percentile among Virginia business certificates, that's misleading context—there are only two schools in the state offering this credential, and VCU's graduates still earn nearly $6,400 less than the national median for these programs.

The debt picture adds to the problem. At $23,250, graduates carry significantly more than the national median ($15,205), resulting in debt that approaches 80% of first-year earnings. For a certificate program—typically designed as a quick workforce entry point—this level of borrowing is unusual. Nationally, VCU ranks in just the 5th percentile for earnings while sitting in the 11th percentile for debt, meaning graduates earn far less than peers elsewhere while borrowing more.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) demands skepticism about whether these patterns will hold, but the current data suggests this certificate isn't functioning as an efficient pathway to employment. If your child is considering business education at VCU, the four-year degree might offer better returns. For a certificate specifically, you'd want clear evidence that individual circumstances—like employer tuition reimbursement or guaranteed advancement—would change this equation substantially.