Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Arkansas State University Three Rivers

Similar health science programs in Arkansas suggest this certificate could deliver earnings around $40,000 in the first year—solidly above the national median of $33,000 for these credentials. The estimated debt load of roughly $14,000 translates to a manageable 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe about one-third of what they earn in year one. But context matters: peer programs across Arkansas show a striking range, from $28,000 to over $52,000 in first-year earnings, suggesting outcomes depend heavily on the specific healthcare roles these certificates prepare students for.

The challenge is that we're working entirely with estimates here. When actual data exists elsewhere in the state, it reveals that certificate choice significantly impacts earning potential—some Arkansas programs produce twice the earnings of others. Without knowing which specific healthcare tracks Arkansas State Three Rivers emphasizes or how their graduates fare in the job market, families are making decisions with limited visibility.

If your student has a clear healthcare career path that aligns with this certificate's focus, and they can verify which roles graduates typically enter, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable value. But given the wide variation among Arkansas programs, you'd want confirmation that this specific certificate leads to the higher-paying roles before committing.