Health and Medical Administrative Services at Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach

Bryant & Stratton's healthcare administration certificate starts reasonably strong at $28,135—slightly above both the national and Virginia medians—but then earnings drop to $24,539 by year four. That 13% decline is troubling, especially when most graduates are expecting their income to grow as they gain experience. Among Virginia's 31 programs in this field, this ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it performs modestly better than half the state's offerings, though it doesn't quite match top performers like Virginia Western Community College.

The debt burden tells a more optimistic story. At $16,467, graduates carry significantly less debt than typical for certificate programs nationally (22nd percentile), and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 means most borrowers could feasibly repay within a year or two of full-time work. With 62% of students receiving Pell grants, this program clearly serves students who need affordable pathways into healthcare administration.

The core question is whether the backward earnings trajectory signals credential limitations or just reflects the realities of entry-level medical office work in this region. If your child treats this as a quick entry point into healthcare with plans to advance through experience or further education, the manageable debt makes it workable. But if they're expecting this certificate alone to launch a growing career, the year-four earnings suggest they may hit a ceiling faster than anticipated.