Health and Medical Administrative Services at Blue Cliff College-Metairie

Blue Cliff College-Metairie graduates earn just $20,985 in their first year—about $7,000 less than the state median for this certificate and nearly $7,000 below the national average. While the program sits at the 40th percentile in Louisiana, that's misleading context: nearby Delgado Community College produces graduates earning $28,354, and several other Louisiana schools consistently deliver outcomes above $26,000. Ranking in the bottom 5% nationally tells the real story.

The $17,375 in typical debt compounds the problem. Though relatively modest compared to bachelor's degrees, it's still 68% higher than the state median for these certificates. An 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face nearly a year's salary in debt before launching careers that typically start around minimum wage levels. With 78% of students receiving Pell grants, this predominantly serves students who can least afford underwhelming outcomes.

For a certificate program meant to provide quick workforce entry, these numbers suggest significant challenges. Parents should recognize that other Louisiana schools deliver substantially better earning potential with similar or lower debt loads. If medical administration is the goal, exploring programs at Delgado or the Delta College campuses—where graduates earn 25-30% more—makes financial sense. This particular certificate appears to underperform both its local competition and the program's national standards by considerable margins.