Health and Medical Administrative Services at Columbia Central University-Caguas

Columbia Central University's health administration certificate presents a complicated picture shaped heavily by Puerto Rico's economic context. While $15,378 in first-year earnings places this program in just the 5th percentile nationally, it ranks in the 95th percentile among Puerto Rico programs—nearly double the island's median of $8,632. The low debt burden of $3,500 (far below the national median of $10,372) means graduates aren't shouldering crushing financial obligations even with modest earnings.

The real question is whether this certificate delivers enough value in Puerto Rico's healthcare job market. Graduates are earning more than the vast majority of peers from other island programs, but they're still making significantly less than top performers like NUC University ($18,974). The 10% earnings growth to $16,951 by year four shows steady progress, though it's unclear if that trajectory continues or plateaus. For an 81% Pell-grant population, that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23 is manageable.

If your child is committed to staying in Puerto Rico and needs healthcare credentials quickly, this program performs well relative to most local options. However, the earnings gap compared to mainland opportunities is substantial—national median is nearly double at $27,783. Families should consider whether mainland relocation after graduation is realistic, as that's where the healthcare administration job market truly rewards these credentials.