Health and Medical Administrative Services at Dawn Career Institute LLC

This program starts strong but the earnings trajectory should concern you. Dawn Career Institute graduates earn $31,676 their first year out—above the national median for medical administrative certificates and right at Delaware's state median. Combined with a manageable $9,500 in debt (lower than the national median), that initial picture looks solid. The 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under four months of gross pay.

The problem emerges over time: by year four, median earnings drop to $26,695, a 16% decline that's unusual for healthcare administration roles. This could reflect high turnover in entry-level medical office positions, graduates moving to part-time work, or simply the volatility of a very small sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, even a few career changes can skew the numbers dramatically. The 60th percentile ranking among Delaware's four programs offering this certificate suggests middle-of-the-pack performance locally.

For parents, the low upfront debt is the safety net here. Even if your child's earnings follow this declining pattern, the total loan burden remains manageable. But treat this more as a quick credential to enter the healthcare administration field than as a long-term earnings growth path. With 41% of students receiving Pell grants, this school clearly serves working-class families looking for affordable entry points to healthcare careers—just be prepared that advancement may require additional training or credentials down the road.