Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Columbia Central University-Caguas

This certificate program sits at the heart of a troubling reality in Puerto Rico's health training landscape. While Columbia Central University graduates earn just $19,560 a year—ranking in the bottom 5% nationally—they're actually performing at the 60th percentile compared to other health services programs in Puerto Rico. That's less a testament to this program's quality and more an indicator of the severe wage compression affecting the island's healthcare sector.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $4,819, graduates carry far less burden than the $13,833 national median, resulting in a manageable 0.25 debt-to-earnings ratio. For a student body where 81% receive Pell grants, minimizing debt matters enormously. But earning less than $20,000 annually—roughly $9.40 per hour—makes it difficult to build financial stability regardless of debt load. The gap between these earnings and the $33,196 national median is stark, representing nearly $14,000 less per year.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether staying in Puerto Rico is necessary. If your student must remain on the island for family or other reasons, this certificate performs reasonably within that constrained market. But if relocation is possible, mainland programs offer substantially higher earning potential that would more than offset any additional costs. The low debt is admirable, but escaping near-poverty wages should be the priority.