Health and Medical Administrative Services at Ivy Tech Community College

Starting at $28,240 just doesn't cut it for health administration work in Indiana, where the typical graduate from similar programs earns about $1,100 more. This Ivy Tech certificate lands graduates below the state median—ranking in just the 40th percentile among Indiana programs—while charging slightly above the state's typical debt level. Several Ross Medical Education Center campuses and Purdue Global consistently place their graduates $2,000-$3,000 higher, suggesting this program isn't leveraging its opportunities as effectively as competitors across the state.

The 12% earnings growth to $31,484 by year four offers some redemption, though it's worth noting this still trails several other Indiana options. The debt load of $13,201 is manageable at under half of first-year earnings, but you're paying more than the Indiana norm ($9,500) for below-median results. With only 23% of students receiving Pell grants—far below community college averages—this appears to be serving a more advantaged population but not delivering stronger outcomes.

If Ivy Tech is your only local option and you need this credential quickly, the reasonable debt burden means it won't derail anyone financially. But if you're comparison shopping within Indiana, know that multiple alternatives consistently deliver better starting positions in this same field, often with lower debt loads.