Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Herzing University-Orlando

Herzing University-Orlando's medical assisting certificate starts strong but comes with a financial catch that demands scrutiny. Graduates earn $30,106 in their first year—above both Florida's median ($26,264) and the national benchmark ($27,186), placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide. That's solid performance in a crowded field of 99 Florida programs. However, earnings flatline completely by year four at $29,950, suggesting limited advancement opportunities or that graduates may leave the field.

The real concern is the debt load. At $24,721, students here borrow 2.6 times more than the typical Florida graduate in this field ($9,500) and rank in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt levels—meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with less debt. With 60% of students on Pell grants, many are financing this certificate through loans that will take years to repay given the stagnant wages. Compare this to Florida's community colleges: Miami Dade graduates earn $34,527 with similar or lower debt, while Palm Beach State tops $33,935.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 means you'd owe nearly a full year's salary upon graduation—manageable for some careers, but questionable for a position where earnings don't grow. Unless your child has substantial scholarship support or family funding, Florida's public technical colleges offer clearer paths to the same career at a fraction of the cost.