Health and Medical Administrative Services at CET-Watsonville

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.