Health and Medical Administrative Services at Berkeley College-Woodland Park

Berkeley College-Woodland Park produces some of the highest first-year earners in this field nationally—graduates start at $41,752, outpacing 95% of similar programs nationwide and beating the national median by over $10,000. But here's the catch that demands attention: by year four, those earnings drop to just $30,385, a 27% decline that's unusual in healthcare administration. Among New Jersey programs, this lands in the 60th percentile—solid but not exceptional for a state where healthcare admin roles typically pay well.

The debt load of $25,562 is manageable at first glance, translating to a 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio in year one. However, that ratio deteriorates sharply as earnings fall, potentially reaching nearly 0.84 by year four. With 60% of students receiving Pell grants, many graduates here are counting on stable income growth that the data suggests doesn't materialize. The earnings decline could reflect graduates taking temporary healthcare positions initially, then shifting to lower-paying administrative roles, or it might indicate broader challenges with career advancement from an associate's degree in this competitive field.

If your child plans to use this as a stepping stone to further education or higher healthcare credentials, the strong starting salary provides breathing room. But if this is the terminal degree, the four-year earnings trend suggests limited staying power in New Jersey's healthcare job market compared to what the impressive first-year numbers might promise.