Health and Medical Administrative Services at Hudson Valley Community College

Hudson Valley Community College graduates from this program earn $36,061 in their first year—putting them above both the national median ($31,719) and the state average ($34,199) for health and medical administrative services associate's degrees. However, with estimated debt of $15,902 based on similar programs at New York community colleges, the real question is whether these earnings hold up over time.

The concerning pattern here is negative growth: earnings actually decline to $34,645 by year four, a 4% drop that's unusual for any degree program. This suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling in entry-level administrative roles without additional credentials or experience. Peer programs in New York demonstrate what's possible—SUNY Alfred and Nassau Community College graduates earn in the mid-$40,000s—but whether Hudson Valley's specific program connects students to those higher-paying opportunities remains unclear since these figures are estimates based on state-level data.

The estimated debt burden is manageable at 0.44 times first-year earnings, well below the danger zone. For a family weighing this investment, the moderate debt load is reassuring, but the earnings trajectory isn't. If your child pursues this path, plan for them to either advance quickly into supervisory roles or stack credentials—perhaps a bachelor's degree or specialized certifications—to avoid getting stuck at that $35,000 plateau.