Health and Medical Administrative Services at Polk State College

Polk State College's health administration certificate punches well above its weight, delivering $35,095 in first-year earnings—nearly $8,000 more than Florida's median for this program and $7,300 above the national benchmark. Among 92 Florida schools offering this credential, Polk ranks in the 80th percentile, trailing only the state's top handful of programs. For an anxious parent, this performance is particularly reassuring given that healthcare administration certificates can be inconsistent in their outcomes.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $14,479, graduates carry manageable balances that amount to just 41% of first-year earnings. While slightly above state and national medians, this debt loads sits in the 29th percentile nationally—meaning most comparable programs saddle students with more debt. That combination of higher-than-average earnings with near-average debt creates genuine ROI, especially for students who need a faster path into healthcare careers than a traditional four-year degree provides.

For families weighing this certificate, the fundamentals are solid. Graduates enter healthcare administration roles earning enough to manage their debt comfortably, and they're doing so after a compact program at a college that serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students. This isn't just affordable access—it's affordable access that actually delivers competitive earnings.