Health and Medical Administrative Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at CET-Watsonville

Median Earnings (1yr)

$25,727

33rd percentile

40th percentile in California

Median Debt

$5,900

43% below national median

Analysis

CET-Watsonville's medical administrative certificate leaves graduates earning less than state and national peers, with virtually no earnings growth over four years. At around $25,700 annually, these graduates make about $1,100 less than California's median for this program and $2,000 below the national benchmark. More concerning: earnings actually decline slightly between years one and four, while programs at schools like Santa Barbara City College and North-West College launch graduates into $40,000+ salaries.

The silver lining is extremely manageable debt—just $5,900, which ranks this program in the 95th percentile nationally for low borrowing. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23, graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under three months of gross earnings. This matters in a field where many programs saddle students with $10,000+ in debt for similar or only marginally better outcomes.

For families prioritizing minimal financial risk, this program delivers on affordability. But the earnings ceiling appears stubbornly low, and the lack of salary progression suggests limited career advancement opportunities. If your child can access one of California's stronger programs in this field—particularly those community colleges posting median earnings above $40,000—the modest additional debt might be worth the significantly higher earning potential. This certificate keeps debt down but may also keep career prospects limited.

Where CET-Watsonville Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all health and medical administrative services certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How CET-Watsonville graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
CET-Watsonville	$25,727	$25,422	-1%
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus	$30,476	$35,863	+18%
Carrington College-San Jose	$30,476	$35,863	+18%
Carrington College-Sacramento	$30,476	$35,863	+18%
Carrington College-Stockton	$30,476	$35,863	+18%

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Health and Medical Administrative Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in California (155 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
CET-WatsonvilleWatsonville	—	$25,727	$25,422	$5,900	0.23
Santa Barbara City CollegeSanta Barbara	$1,234	$47,046	—	$18,728	0.40
North-West College-Van NuysVan Nuys	—	$40,938	$26,924	$9,500	0.23
Unitek CollegeFremont	—	$34,441	—	$9,500	0.28
American Career College-Los AngelesLos Angeles	—	$32,682	$32,524	$9,500	0.29
American Career College-AnaheimAnaheim	—	$32,682	$32,524	$9,500	0.29
National Median	—	$27,783	—	$10,372	0.37

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with health and medical administrative services graduates

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

$103,960/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At CET-Watsonville, approximately 23% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 116 graduates with reported earnings and 78 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.