Health and Medical Administrative Services at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Rowan-Cabarrus's health and medical administrative certificate delivers one clear advantage: graduates leave with roughly half the debt burden typical for North Carolina programs ($10,875 versus the state median of $19,318). That matters when you're earning $26,220 in your first year—you're looking at a debt load equal to just five months of salary rather than eight or nine.

The catch is performance. Among North Carolina's 59 schools offering this certificate, Rowan-Cabarrus ranks around the 40th percentile for earnings—below the state median of $27,644 and well behind top community college programs like Wake Tech ($34,372) and Johnston Community College ($34,244). The gap widens dramatically compared to Durham Tech's $70,267, though that's likely a different tier of outcome. Earnings do grow 14% by year four, reaching $29,850, which at least tracks in the right direction.

For families considering this program, the lower debt makes it less risky than many alternatives in the state. But if your student can access similar programs at Wake Tech or Johnston—especially if they're within commuting distance—those offer 15-20% higher starting salaries for potentially comparable debt loads. Rowan-Cabarrus makes sense as a convenient, affordable entry point into healthcare administration, just not necessarily the most lucrative one in North Carolina's community college system.