Health and Medical Administrative Services at Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak State College graduates in this program earn $69,160 in their first year—56% above the national median and solidly ahead of Connecticut's state median of $60,683. While this puts them in the 60th percentile among Connecticut programs, the real story is the massive gap over the national field. These graduates are outearning roughly 95% of their peers nationwide, a remarkable positioning for what is essentially an administrative healthcare degree.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $28,688, graduates borrow less than both national and state medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 that most families would consider manageable. The slight earnings dip to $68,718 by year four is negligible and likely reflects the career plateau typical of mid-level administrative roles rather than a fundamental problem with the program. For students seeking stable healthcare administration careers without the intensive clinical training or higher debt loads of nursing programs, this represents strong financial footing.

The practical advantage here is Charter Oak's online model serving working adults—38% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the school successfully serves students who might otherwise struggle to access higher education. If your child is interested in healthcare's business side and can handle the self-direction required for online learning, this program delivers income potential that outpaces most alternatives at a price point that won't create crushing debt.