Public Health at Florida Career College-Margate

Florida Career College-Margate's public health associate program produces graduates earning around $30,000 annually—a figure that remains essentially flat four years out. While this places the program at the Florida median and ranks it in the 60th percentile among state programs, the complete absence of earnings growth raises questions about career advancement opportunities. The $20,000 debt load translates to a reasonable 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that calculation becomes less reassuring when earnings aren't improving over time.

The program serves a predominantly low-income population (69% receive Pell grants), and for students seeking immediate entry to the workforce, the modest debt burden might be manageable. However, several sister institutions in the Florida Career College system produce identical outcomes, while top performers like Florida National University and Keiser University show graduates earning $36,000-$37,000—roughly 20% more. That gap matters when you're starting from $30,000.

If your child plans to use this associate degree as a stepping stone to a bachelor's program, it could work as an affordable entry point. But as a terminal credential, the stagnant earnings trajectory suggests limited career mobility. For families able to navigate the application process, exploring the higher-performing Florida programs might yield significantly better long-term returns for similar or even lower debt levels.