Certificate (1-2 years)+10% vs national median5,028 grads tracked
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Northern Virginia Community College
Ranked 7th of 55 certificate (1-2 years) programs in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$29,588
middle 50%: $21,328 – $43,594
Median · 5 years out
$48,296
middle 50%: $32,987 – $66,898
Median · 10 years out
$72,014
middle 50%: $47,911 – $105,406
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (certificate (1-2 years)) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Certificate holders start with a median salary of $30k. Ten-year earnings average $72k.
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
8.6 yrs
≈ $10,780 total interest
Same major at other universities
Three Rivers Community College
$63,874 · 5 yrs out
Northshore Technical Community College
$63,610 · 5 yrs out
Salt Lake Community College
$54,051 · 5 yrs out
Vincennes University
$50,268 · 5 yrs out
Baton Rouge Community College
$49,561 · 5 yrs out
BridgeValley Community and Technical College
$49,073 · 5 yrs out
Germanna Community College
$46,691 · 5 yrs out
L. E. Fletcher Technical Community College
$45,694 · 5 yrs out
Metropolitan Community College
$45,637 · 5 yrs out
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana - Region 2
$45,433 · 5 yrs out
Southwest Virginia Community College
$45,368 · 5 yrs out
Louisiana Delta Community College
$45,075 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Northern Virginia Community College
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$105,430 · 5 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Certificate)
$103,697 · 5 yrs out
Fire Protection (Associate)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Certificate)
$95,510 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Construction Trades, General (Associate)
$95,189 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Certificate)
$92,628 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Surveying Engineering (Certificate)
$88,826 · 5 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Associate)
$87,210 · 5 yrs out
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate)
$86,799 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Associate)
$86,785 · 5 yrs out