WhatGradsMake
Certificate (under 1 year)-6% vs national median195 grads tracked

Data Processing at Richland College

Ranked 17th of 23 certificate (under 1 year) programs in Data Processing by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$41,624
middle 50%: $27,570 – $56,628
Median · 5 years out
$44,767
middle 50%: $30,620 – $63,874
Median · 10 years out
$47,705
middle 50%: $30,764 – $63,082

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Data Processing (certificate (under 1 year)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Richland College's certificate (under 1 year) program in Data Processing earn a median $41,624 one year after graduating, rising to $47,705 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 6% below the national median of $47,449 for this field, ranking 17th of 23 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
9 yrs
≈ $9,918 total interest

Same major at other universities

Piedmont Technical College
$48,487 · 5 yrs out
Aiken Technical College
$47,449 · 5 yrs out
Trident Technical College
$46,634 · 5 yrs out
Angelina College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Eastfield College
$45,751 · 5 yrs out
Central Carolina Technical College
$45,191 · 5 yrs out
Coastal Bend College
$42,033 · 5 yrs out
Orangeburg - Calhoun Technical College
$41,933 · 5 yrs out
Tri-County Technical College
$41,844 · 5 yrs out
Navarro College
$40,834 · 5 yrs out
Dallas College
$39,884 · 5 yrs out
Zane State College
$29,704 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Richland College

Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$112,298 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$110,315 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$81,373 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$77,193 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$77,125 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Certificate)
$75,819 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate)
$74,415 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Associate)
$67,967 · 5 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate)
$66,409 · 5 yrs out
Computer Programming (Certificate)
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Certificate)
$65,910 · 5 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate)
$65,122 · 5 yrs out

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