Health and Medical Administrative Services at Laurus College

Laurus College graduates start strong, earning $35,211 after one year—comfortably above both the national and California medians for this program. Among California's 70 schools offering this degree, Laurus ranks in the 80th percentile, which is genuinely impressive for a program serving a predominantly Pell-eligible population. The $33,000 debt load is higher than typical but manageable when paired with that first-year salary.

The concern is what happens next. By year four, median earnings drop to $24,369, a 31% decline that's hard to explain through normal labor market patterns. This could reflect graduates shifting to part-time work, leaving the field entirely, or the moderate sample size capturing unusual career paths. Either way, it raises questions about whether early momentum translates into stable careers. That debt remains constant while earnings fall, fundamentally changing the financial picture.

For families weighing this program, the first-year results suggest Laurus prepares students well for immediate employment in California's healthcare administration market. But the earnings trajectory warrants careful scrutiny. If your student plans to build a long-term career in this field, understanding why earnings decline so sharply matters. The program works best for students who can leverage that strong starting salary to pay down debt quickly—within the first few years—before that earnings advantage potentially disappears.