Health and Medical Administrative Services at Herzing University-Brookfield

Herzing University-Brookfield's medical administrative services certificate carries debt that's double the national average while producing earnings below the Wisconsin median—a combination that should concern any parent comparing options. At $27,871 in first-year earnings, graduates earn $5,500 less than the typical Wisconsin program in this field, placing them in just the 25th percentile statewide. Meanwhile, the $22,135 in median debt is more than triple what students typically borrow for similar certificates nationally.

The comparison to Wisconsin's technical colleges is particularly stark. Madison Area Technical College graduates earn $43,237—55% more than Herzing's—while programs at Northeast Wisconsin Tech, Southwest Wisconsin Tech, and Fox Valley Tech all produce earnings in the mid-$30,000s. These schools also typically charge far less, especially for Wisconsin residents. The slight earnings decline from year one to year four suggests limited salary growth in these administrative roles, making that initial debt burden even more significant.

With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79, graduates face nearly eight months of gross pay in student loans—a manageable but not insignificant burden made worse by below-average earning potential. For a certificate program that takes less than two years, paying $22,000 while earning $6,000 less annually than peers at nearby technical colleges represents a steep price. Parents should ask why their child wouldn't pursue the same credential at a Wisconsin technical college, where both outcomes and costs typically favor students.