Health/Medical Preparatory Programs at Mount Saint Mary's University

That $93,238 first-year salary is extraordinary for a health prep degree—nearly triple the national median—but here's the catch: Mount Saint Mary's data represents fewer than 30 graduates, making these numbers somewhat precarious. The state picture confirms this isn't a fluke, though: California's median for this program sits at the exact same $93,238, suggesting LA's healthcare market may genuinely offer exceptional opportunities for pre-med and pre-health graduates willing to work while pursuing advanced degrees. At the 95th percentile nationally but 60th in California, this program is world-class by most standards but merely above-average in a state with several powerhouse medical feeders.

The $27,000 debt load is manageable—just 29% of that first-year salary—and actually sits in the 25th percentile nationally (meaning lower debt than most programs). For a moderately selective Catholic university serving predominantly middle- and lower-income students (55% receive Pell grants), these outcomes suggest strong healthcare industry connections in Los Angeles. The real question is what happens to graduates who don't immediately land these high-paying clinical or research positions.

The tiny sample size means one or two pharmaceutical sales reps or clinical coordinators could be inflating the average considerably. If your child is certain about healthcare and has realistic expectations about what "preparatory" means (these aren't nursing or PA salaries, and many will need graduate school), the combination of accessible admissions and strong LA placement makes this worth considering—just don't bet the farm on replicating that exact $93K figure.