Health and Medical Administrative Services at Raritan Valley Community College

Similar health administration programs in New Jersey suggest first-year earnings around $37,750—a figure that sits comfortably above the national median of $31,719 for associate's degrees in this field. That's the good news. The complication is that students at comparable community colleges typically leave with about $20,400 in debt, which creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54. This isn't alarming by community college standards, but it means your child would be carrying roughly half a year's salary in loans while starting in what's often an entry-level administrative role.

New Jersey's healthcare administrative market does offer some advantage over other states—peer programs here tend to produce better earnings than the national average. However, the range is wide: while some NJ graduates start above $40,000, others begin in the mid-$20,000s. Much depends on whether your child lands at a hospital system versus a smaller clinic, and whether they pursue additional certifications that many employers now prefer.

The practical question is whether $20,000 in debt makes sense for a starting salary that will require careful budgeting. If your child can minimize borrowing through grants or part-time work, this becomes more manageable. But at full estimated debt, they'd face monthly payments that could strain a modest administrative salary, particularly in New Jersey's high cost-of-living environment.