Health and Medical Administrative Services at Bryant & Stratton College-Online

Bryant & Stratton's online health administration certificate carries a troubling pattern: graduates earn $28,135 in their first year—right at New York's median—but see earnings drop to $24,539 by year four. That 13% decline is the opposite of what you'd expect from career advancement, suggesting many graduates struggle to build on their initial positions. While the program ranks in the 60th percentile among New York certificate programs, that comparison includes smaller community colleges; the top-performing programs in the state deliver first-year earnings $4,800 higher.

The debt picture offers some relief. At $16,467, graduates borrow about 60% of their first-year earnings—manageable compared to many certificate programs nationally—and three-quarters of students qualify for Pell grants, indicating the program serves students who need affordable pathways into healthcare administration. However, that debt burden becomes heavier as earnings decline rather than grow.

For families considering this investment, understand that you're paying for entry-level access, not a launching pad. If your child needs a quick credential to break into medical office work and plans to supplement it with experience or additional training, the modest debt makes this viable. But if the goal is earnings growth through the certificate alone, the four-year data suggests that's unlikely to materialize.