Health and Medical Administrative Services at Centura College-Norfolk

This program lands squarely in the middle of Virginia's options, but that middle ground is troubling: with first-year earnings of just $23,876, graduates at Centura College-Norfolk earn $8,000 less than the national median for this program. The silver lining—that it's exactly average for Virginia—really just underscores how weak the state's market is for associate-level healthcare administration positions. Neighboring schools like Tidewater Community College and ECPI University see their graduates earning $5,000-$6,000 more annually, suggesting that even within Virginia, better outcomes are achievable.

The debt picture adds pressure. At $23,000 in loans against first-year earnings under $24,000, graduates face nearly dollar-for-dollar debt-to-income ratios. With 74% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are counting on this degree to deliver economic mobility. The 9% earnings growth to year four helps, but $26,077 still leaves graduates struggling—that's roughly $12.50/hour, barely above what many entry-level positions pay without credentials.

For families considering this program, the math is straightforward: you're taking on a year's worth of salary in debt for earnings that lag the national market by 25%. Unless your child has specific ties to Norfolk or financial constraints that make this the only option, community colleges like Tidewater offer comparable state access with significantly stronger earning potential.