Health and Medical Administrative Services at Centura College-Newport News

This program matches Virginia's median earnings for health administrative certificates at $26,072 after one year, though it trails the state's top performers by about $2,700. The crucial question: is that difference worth navigating? With 80% of students receiving Pell grants, Centura serves predominantly working-class families who need credentials that translate directly to paychecks.

The $14,700 debt load sits at the Virginia median for this credential but feels manageable given the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56—you're borrowing roughly half what your graduate earns in year one. Nationally, this debt level actually ranks favorably (28th percentile), meaning most similar programs burden students with more. The modest 4% earnings growth to $27,041 by year four suggests these jobs offer stability rather than dramatic income progression, typical for medical administrative roles where experience matters but salary bands are relatively fixed.

For families where $26,000-$27,000 represents meaningful income improvement—particularly those qualifying for Pell grants—this certificate does what it promises: quick entry to healthcare administrative work at manageable debt levels. If your child could access community college options like Virginia Western (earning $28,754), that premium of $2,700 annually might justify the research. But Centura delivers middle-of-the-pack results at middle-of-the-pack cost, which for many students beats delaying income while chasing marginal gains.