Health and Medical Administrative Services at Centura College-Richmond Main

Centura College-Richmond's healthcare administrative program lands right at Virginia's median for earnings, but the debt burden tells a more interesting story. While graduates here carry $14,700 in loans—higher than the national median of $10,372—this actually places the program in the 28th percentile nationally for debt, meaning 72% of similar programs leave students with more to repay. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 is manageable, and with 73% of students receiving Pell grants, this program is clearly serving students who need affordable pathways into healthcare administration.

The challenge is competitiveness within Virginia. Several community and career colleges in the state deliver similar or better earnings outcomes, with Virginia Western topping out at $28,754. Earnings here grow modestly from $26,072 to $27,041 over four years—enough to keep pace with inflation but not much more. That said, the program performs better than 60% of Virginia competitors, and the relatively contained debt load means graduates aren't facing years of aggressive repayment.

For families weighing this against community college alternatives, the tradeoff is clear: you'll pay somewhat more upfront but enter a stable field with immediate earning potential. Just understand that $26,000 is the earnings ceiling here, not the floor—this is what most graduates are actually making, not starting salaries with significant upside.