Health and Medical Administrative Services at Hazard Community and Technical College

This program's earnings fall significantly below the national benchmark—graduates earn just $26,276 one year out, compared to a national median of $31,719 for the same degree. More concerning, they're starting at roughly half what the top program in Kentucky delivers ($48,917 at Gateway Community and Technical College). However, before dismissing it outright, note that this program actually performs above Kentucky's median of $25,544, landing at the 60th percentile statewide. In a state where healthcare administrative roles may simply pay less than national averages, Hazard is middle-of-the-pack.

The debt picture offers a silver lining: at $15,443, graduates owe considerably less than both the state median ($18,018) and national median ($23,000). This keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.59—you're borrowing well under a year's salary. For students who need to stay local in Eastern Kentucky and can't relocate to Louisville or Lexington where the top programs are located, this represents an accessible entry point into healthcare administration without crushing debt.

The critical caveat is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing dramatically year to year. If your child is considering this program because they're tied to the Hazard area, the reasonable debt load and modest earnings make it workable, but they should understand they're trading geographic convenience for significantly lower earning potential compared to programs elsewhere in Kentucky.