Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at East Arkansas Community College

East Arkansas Community College's health sciences certificate shows unusually strong first-year earnings of $51,751—ranking in the 94th percentile nationally and 80th within Arkansas—but there's a significant catch. Earnings drop sharply to $32,494 by year four, a 37% decline that's hard to explain by typical career patterns. This likely reflects the small sample size (under 30 graduates) rather than a real trend, making these numbers unreliable for planning purposes. The low debt load of $8,500 is genuinely encouraging and among the best in the state, but the earnings volatility suggests the data may be capturing different career paths or life circumstances rather than a coherent program outcome.

The comparison to Arkansas peers reveals the uncertainty: while the first-year figure edges out NorthWest Arkansas Community College, the four-year number falls below several competitors. With only 19 programs statewide offering this certificate, small cohorts at any individual school can produce misleading data. The wild swing between years one and four is the clearest signal that these numbers don't represent what a typical graduate should expect.

For anxious parents, the message is straightforward: don't rely on this data alone. The low debt is real and matters, but the earnings figures are too unstable to trust. Look at where recent graduates actually work and what credentials they earn, because the numbers here raise more questions than they answer.