{ "dataset": "EduBracket Certification ROI Data 2026", "publisher": "EduBracket (edubracket.com), part of the Lattice research network", "author": "Vincent Wesley Couey (ORCID 0009-0005-6869-308X)", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "snapshotDate": "2026-06-19", "certCount": 16, "metadata": { "dataProvenance": "SOURCED: each program’s cost + duration from its official Coursera page; each target role’s median annual wage (May 2024) + 2024–34 employment growth from the U.S. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. DERIVED: cost-as-%-of-one-month-role-pay (cost / (median/12)) + a rules-based worth-it verdict (Strong/Solid/Modest/Caution from BLS growth + pay). HONESTY FLOOR (non-negotiable): a certificate opens a door, it does NOT guarantee a job; the BLS median is for the broader/experienced occupation and entry-level pays less (flagged per cert); we never impute cert-holder earnings or placement rates we do not have. The contrarian truths (e.g., the IT-Support target role is DECLINING per BLS) are the point.", "method": "Contributive-metric programmatic data (Lattice Programmatic Data Engine, cert adapter): we do not restate vendor marketing; we pair the verifiable cost/time of the credential with the verifiable BLS reality of the role it targets, and state plainly when those disagree.", "doi": "10.5281/zenodo.20768042", "conceptDoi": "10.5281/zenodo.20768041" }, "certs": [ { "slug": "google-data-analytics", "name": "Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate", "platform": "Coursera", "certUrl": "https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-data-analytics", "cost_usd": 294, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 6, "target_role": "Data Analyst", "bls_occupation": "Data Scientists", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 112590, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 34, "role_outlook": "much faster than average", "annual_openings": 23400, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 3.1, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Strong", "verdict_reason": "high pay ($112,590 median) + much-faster-than-average growth (+34%, BLS) on a low-cost credential", "entry_level_caveat": "BLS \"Data Scientists\" is the broad category; entry-level data-analyst roles (the cert’s typical first job) pay closer to $70k–$85k." }, { "slug": "google-cybersecurity", "name": "Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate", "platform": "Coursera", "certUrl": "https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-cybersecurity", "cost_usd": 294, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 6, "target_role": "Security Analyst", "bls_occupation": "Information Security Analysts", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 124910, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 29, "role_outlook": "much faster than average", "annual_openings": 16000, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 2.8, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Strong", "verdict_reason": "high pay ($124,910 median) + much-faster-than-average growth (+29%, BLS) on a low-cost credential", "entry_level_caveat": "Most postings still ask for some prior IT experience; the cert is an entry signal, not a guarantee of an analyst role." }, { "slug": "google-project-management", "name": "Google Project Management Professional Certificate", "platform": "Coursera", "certUrl": "https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-project-management", "cost_usd": 294, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 6, "target_role": "Project Coordinator / Manager", "bls_occupation": "Project Management Specialists", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 100750, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 6, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": 78200, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 3.5, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($100,750 median) + steady growth (+6%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "Entry titles (project coordinator/assistant) pay below the BLS median; the PMP credential, not this cert, is what senior PM roles list." }, { "slug": "google-ux-design", "name": "Google UX Design Professional Certificate", "platform": "Coursera", "certUrl": "https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-ux-design", "cost_usd": 294, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 6, "target_role": "UX Designer", "bls_occupation": "Web Developers and Digital Designers", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 90930, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 7, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": 14500, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 3.9, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($90,930 median) + steady growth (+7%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "A hireable portfolio matters far more than the certificate for UX roles; the cert builds the portfolio, employers rarely list it as required." }, { "slug": "google-it-support", "name": "Google IT Support Professional Certificate", "platform": "Coursera", "certUrl": "https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-it-support", "cost_usd": 294, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 6, "target_role": "IT Support Specialist", "bls_occupation": "Computer Support Specialists", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 60340, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": -3, "role_outlook": "declining", "annual_openings": 50500, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 5.8, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Caution", "verdict_reason": "the target role is projected to DECLINE 3% through 2034 (BLS) — strong as an entry rung, weak as a destination", "entry_level_caveat": "BLS projects the role to DECLINE 3% through 2034 (AI + self-service tooling). Strong as a first rung INTO IT, weak as a destination, plan to ladder up." }, { "slug": "meta-front-end-developer", "name": "Meta Front-End Developer Professional Certificate", "platform": "Coursera", "certUrl": "https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/meta-front-end-developer", "cost_usd": 294, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 7, "target_role": "Front-End Developer", "bls_occupation": "Web Developers and Digital Designers", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 90930, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 7, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": 14500, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 3.9, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($90,930 median) + steady growth (+7%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "Junior dev hiring is portfolio-and-project gated; the cert is a structured path to those projects, not a credential employers require." }, { "slug": "comptia-security", "name": "CompTIA Security+", "platform": "CompTIA (exam SY0-701)", "certUrl": "https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security", "cost_usd": 425, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 3, "target_role": "Security Analyst / SOC Analyst", "bls_occupation": "Information Security Analysts", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 124910, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 29, "role_outlook": "much faster than average", "annual_openings": 16000, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 4.1, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Strong", "verdict_reason": "high pay ($124,910 median) + much-faster-than-average growth (+29%, BLS) on a low-cost credential", "entry_level_caveat": "The common baseline cert for entry security + DoD 8570 roles, but employers still usually expect some prior IT/help-desk experience; it opens the door, it is not a first job by itself." }, { "slug": "aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate", "name": "AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate", "platform": "AWS (exam SAA-C03)", "certUrl": "https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-associate/", "cost_usd": 150, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 3, "target_role": "Cloud Solutions Architect", "bls_occupation": "Computer Network Architects", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-network-architects.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 130390, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 12, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": null, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 1.4, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Strong", "verdict_reason": "high pay ($130,390 median) + much-faster-than-average growth (+12%, BLS) on a low-cost credential", "entry_level_caveat": "AWS recommends ~1 year hands-on before this exam. The cert lands interviews; real project work (a deployed architecture) lands the job. Not an entry-from-zero credential." }, { "slug": "aws-certified-cloud-practitioner", "name": "AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner", "platform": "AWS (exam CLF-C02)", "certUrl": "https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-cloud-practitioner/", "cost_usd": 100, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 1, "target_role": "Cloud Support / Associate", "bls_occupation": "Computer Systems Analysts", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-systems-analysts.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 103790, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 9, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": null, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 1.2, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($103,790 median) + steady growth (+9%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "Foundational + largely non-technical — it proves cloud literacy, not job-readiness. Treat it as a $100 door-opener you pair with an Associate-level cert + projects." }, { "slug": "microsoft-azure-fundamentals-az-900", "name": "Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)", "platform": "Microsoft (exam AZ-900)", "certUrl": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-fundamentals/", "cost_usd": 99, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 1, "target_role": "Cloud / Azure Associate", "bls_occupation": "Computer Systems Analysts", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-systems-analysts.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 103790, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 9, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": null, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 1.1, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($103,790 median) + steady growth (+9%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "Fundamentals-level: proves literacy, not employability. The hireable signal is the next rung (AZ-104 Administrator or AZ-204 Developer) plus hands-on labs." }, { "slug": "salesforce-certified-administrator", "name": "Salesforce Certified Administrator", "platform": "Salesforce", "certUrl": "https://trailhead.salesforce.com/credentials/administrator", "cost_usd": 200, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 3, "target_role": "Salesforce Administrator", "bls_occupation": "Computer Systems Analysts", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-systems-analysts.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 103790, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 9, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": null, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 2.3, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($103,790 median) + steady growth (+9%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "Real demand + a defined career ladder (Admin → Advanced Admin → Platform App Builder). Hands-on org experience (a free Developer org + Trailhead) matters as much as the badge." }, { "slug": "project-management-professional-pmp", "name": "Project Management Professional (PMP)", "platform": "PMI", "certUrl": "https://www.pmi.org/certifications/project-management-pmp", "cost_usd": 589, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 4, "target_role": "Project Manager", "bls_occupation": "Project Management Specialists", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/project-management-specialists.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 100750, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 6, "role_outlook": "faster than average", "annual_openings": 78200, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 7, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Solid", "verdict_reason": "decent pay ($100,750 median) + steady growth (+6%, BLS); skills + portfolio do the heavy lifting", "entry_level_caveat": "NOT entry-level: the PMP requires 35 hours of PM education PLUS documented project experience (36 months with a degree) just to sit the exam. This is a mid-career credential that raises a salaried PM's pay, not a way in." }, { "slug": "cisco-certified-network-associate-ccna", "name": "Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)", "platform": "Cisco (exam 200-301)", "certUrl": "https://www.cisco.com/site/us/en/learn/training-certifications/certifications/enterprise/ccna/index.html", "cost_usd": 330, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 4, "target_role": "Network Engineer", "bls_occupation": "Network and Computer Systems Administrators", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 96800, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": -4, "role_outlook": "declining", "annual_openings": null, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 4.1, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Caution", "verdict_reason": "the target role is projected to DECLINE 4% through 2034 (BLS) — strong as an entry rung, weak as a destination", "entry_level_caveat": "Rigorous + respected, but the core network-admin role BLS tracks is projected to DECLINE 4% through 2034. Its lasting value is increasingly as a cloud-networking + security on-ramp, not as a destination." }, { "slug": "comptia-network", "name": "CompTIA Network+", "platform": "CompTIA (exam N10-009)", "certUrl": "https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network", "cost_usd": 369, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 3, "target_role": "Network Administrator", "bls_occupation": "Network and Computer Systems Administrators", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/network-and-computer-systems-administrators.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 96800, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": -4, "role_outlook": "declining", "annual_openings": null, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 4.6, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Caution", "verdict_reason": "the target role is projected to DECLINE 4% through 2034 (BLS) — strong as an entry rung, weak as a destination", "entry_level_caveat": "Vendor-neutral networking foundation — but the target role is DECLINING (BLS, -4%). Best treated as a stepping stone you ladder out of toward cloud/security, not a career endpoint." }, { "slug": "comptia-a", "name": "CompTIA A+", "platform": "CompTIA (two exams)", "certUrl": "https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a", "cost_usd": 492, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 3, "target_role": "IT Support / Help Desk Technician", "bls_occupation": "Computer Support Specialists", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 60340, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": -3, "role_outlook": "declining", "annual_openings": 50500, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 9.8, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Caution", "verdict_reason": "the target role is projected to DECLINE 3% through 2034 (BLS) — strong as an entry rung, weak as a destination", "entry_level_caveat": "The classic first rung INTO IT — but the support-tech role itself BLS projects to DECLINE 3% (AI + self-service). Get it to break in, then immediately ladder toward cloud/security/networking; do not plan to stay." }, { "slug": "tableau-desktop-specialist", "name": "Tableau Desktop Specialist", "platform": "Tableau / Salesforce", "certUrl": "https://www.tableau.com/learn/certification/desktop-specialist", "cost_usd": 100, "free_option": "Free to audit; full certificate free with Coursera financial aid", "months": 2, "target_role": "Data Analyst (BI / Visualization)", "bls_occupation": "Data Scientists", "bls_url": "https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm", "role_median_salary_usd": 112590, "role_growth_pct_2024_34": 34, "role_outlook": "much faster than average", "annual_openings": 23400, "cost_as_pct_of_one_month_role_pay": 1.1, "required_signal": "Not listed as required by employers; the program markets \"no degree or prior experience required.\" Treat the cert as a structured skill signal, not a hiring guarantee.", "worth_it_verdict": "Strong", "verdict_reason": "high pay ($112,590 median) + much-faster-than-average growth (+34%, BLS) on a low-cost credential", "entry_level_caveat": "A narrow tool credential. Valuable ALONGSIDE real analytics skills (SQL + a portfolio of dashboards), not on its own — and entry analyst roles pay well below the broad BLS median." } ] }