Public Health at Florida Career College-Orlando

Florida Career College-Orlando's public health associate program lands squarely in the middle of the pack nationally, but performs slightly better within Florida—ranking in the 60th percentile among the state's 19 programs. The $20,000 in typical debt translates to about eight months of gross earnings, which is manageable if employment is steady. However, the complete lack of earnings growth between year one and year four is worth noting: graduates earn essentially the same $30,000 whether they're fresh out or four years into their careers.

The real concern here isn't the starting point—it's the trajectory. With nearly 70% of students receiving Pell grants, many families are banking on income mobility that these numbers don't show materializing. Compare this to top Florida performers like Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, where graduates earn about $7,000 more annually, and the limitation becomes clearer. At this price point and for this predominantly low-income student body, flat earnings suggest limited advancement opportunities or that many graduates may be working in roles that don't leverage their associate degree.

For parents, the math works if your child treats this as a stepping stone to further education or has a specific entry-level public health job lined up. As a terminal degree for immediate career launch, the stagnant earnings pattern raises questions about return on investment, even with relatively modest debt.