Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions at Hillsborough Community College

Starting at $48,000 with under $20,000 in debt sounds solid—until you look at the Florida market. While Hillsborough's ophthalmic technology program performs 28% better than the national median, it trails the state median by about $5,000. That 40th percentile ranking among Florida programs matters because most graduates will compete for jobs locally, where Miami Dade College's program produces alumni earning nearly $10,000 more in their first year.

That said, the fundamentals remain strong. The 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates earn more than twice what they borrowed—manageable repayment by any standard. The program also significantly outperforms three-quarters of similar programs nationwide, suggesting Hillsborough delivers competent training even if it's not the state's strongest option. For a family weighing community college costs against earning potential, this creates a reasonably safe path into healthcare.

The practical calculus: if Miami Dade is accessible and costs roughly the same (both are Florida community colleges), that $10,000 first-year earnings gap deserves serious consideration. But if Hillsborough is the local option, you're still looking at a program that lets students enter a specialized healthcare field with minimal debt and earnings that support loan repayment from day one. It's not the premium choice in Florida, but it's far from risky.