Health and Medical Administrative Services at Carrington College-Portland

Carrington College-Portland's medical administrative program graduates earn substantially more than peers nationwide—$34,016 versus a national median of $27,783—placing them in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive on paper, but within Oregon, these outcomes are more middle-of-the-road, ranking in the 60th percentile among 17 programs statewide. The $10,364 in debt is reasonable, representing just 30% of first-year earnings, making this accessible even for the 60% of students here who receive Pell grants.

The troubling pattern emerges by year four: earnings slip to $33,365, a modest but disappointing decline when graduates should be advancing. This suggests that the initial salary advantage doesn't translate into meaningful career momentum. For comparison, the top Oregon programs produce similar first-year earnings but presumably offer better growth trajectories.

This certificate delivers what it promises upfront—solid entry-level earnings with manageable debt—but appears to cap out quickly. If your child sees this as a stepping stone to further education or plans to leverage it for immediate employment in a healthcare setting, the low debt and strong starting salary make sense. But if they're expecting steady wage growth in medical administration, the flat earnings trajectory suggests they may need additional credentials down the road to advance.