Health and Medical Administrative Services at Carrington College-Phoenix North

Carrington College-Phoenix North's health administration certificate lands squarely in the middle—above the national benchmark but trailing most Arizona competitors. While first-year earnings of $29,076 beat the national median by about $1,300, they fall short of Arizona's state median and lag roughly $5,500 behind what graduates earn at Phoenix College or GateWay Community College.

The debt picture deserves attention here. At $9,500, graduates carry slightly less debt than typical programs, but not dramatically so. The 0.33 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable—you're looking at roughly four months of gross income to cover the certificate cost. However, that 75th percentile debt ranking nationally means three-quarters of similar programs leave students with less debt, which is worth noting given that community colleges often charge far less for comparable credentials.

The 13% earnings growth over four years shows steady income progression, which matters for a program serving mainly Pell-eligible students (55%). But for Arizona families, the comparison is straightforward: community college alternatives deliver higher starting salaries with typically lower debt. Unless location or scheduling makes Carrington the only viable option, families should seriously weigh whether the convenience justifies the tradeoff in both earnings potential and cost relative to Phoenix's community college options.