Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians at City College-Hollywood

City College-Hollywood's veterinary tech program carries $27,300 in debt—significantly more than the state median of $23,065—while delivering below-average earnings at $34,693. That puts graduates about $6,000 behind what students earn at Miami Dade College and nearly $4,000 behind St. Petersburg College, both of which offer the same credential. The debt burden here ranks in the 95th percentile nationally (meaning only 5% of programs saddle students with more debt), which is particularly striking given that earnings land squarely in the middle of the pack at the 40th percentile among Florida programs.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 isn't catastrophic—graduates earn slightly more than their total debt in their first year—but it's less favorable than you'd see at comparable programs. With 100% of students receiving Pell grants, this school serves a population that can least afford to take on extra debt for middling outcomes. The open admission policy means access isn't an issue, but your child would likely graduate with better earnings prospects and less debt at one of the state's community colleges offering the same program.

If your child is set on this field in South Florida, the smarter financial move is Miami Dade or St. Petersburg College. Both deliver stronger earnings with comparable or lower debt loads.