Health and Medical Administrative Services at Linn-Benton Community College

Linn-Benton Community College keeps debt remarkably low for this healthcare certificate—just $17,572 compared to a national median of $10,372. That 18th percentile debt ranking is genuinely impressive, especially given that graduates earn $29,911 within a year, slightly above the national median. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 means graduates could reasonably pay off their loans in under two years if they're aggressive about it.

The Oregon picture is more complicated. While this program beats national benchmarks, it falls to the 40th percentile within the state, with nearby programs like Carrington College-Portland producing graduates earning $34,000+. That $4,000 gap matters when you're starting at roughly $30,000. Still, the lower debt burden here partially offsets the earnings difference—you'd need to compare total costs carefully.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is worth noting, as a few outliers can skew these numbers. But if these figures hold, this program offers a relatively safe entry into healthcare administration: modest debt, predictable earnings, and a clear path to paying off loans quickly. For families prioritizing financial risk management over maximizing immediate income, that conservative profile has real appeal.