Health and Medical Administrative Services at Hazard Community and Technical College

This small certificate program produces graduates earning slightly above both national and Kentucky medians, but the real story is the debt profile. With just under $15,000 in student loans, Hazard Community and Technical College manages to keep borrowing relatively contained—about $4,500 below what Kentucky students typically carry for this credential. That 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face manageable repayment relative to their starting income, though it's worth noting the sample size here is quite small.

The earnings gap tells you something important about Kentucky's healthcare administration job market: even top-performing programs like Sullivan University and Jefferson Community and Technical College see graduates starting in the low-to-mid $30,000s, not the $40,000+ you might expect elsewhere. Hazard's $28,000 median lands in the middle of the pack statewide, ranking at the 60th percentile among Kentucky programs. For students planning to stay in rural eastern Kentucky where this college is located, those earnings likely stretch further than in Louisville or Lexington.

The practical takeaway: this is a workable path into healthcare administration for students who need to stay close to home and want to avoid the debt loads some private competitors charge. Just don't expect dramatic earning power—this certificate opens doors to entry-level medical office work, not management roles. For families watching every dollar, Hazard's combination of moderate debt and predictable outcomes makes sense, especially given that 37% of students here qualify for Pell grants.