Health and Medical Administrative Services at San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield

San Joaquin Valley College-Bakersfield's healthcare administration program sits right at California's median for earnings, even while charging $20,000 in debt—a manageable burden given the modest starting salary. That 60th percentile state ranking matters: this program does what most California competitors do, despite landing below the national median of $31,719. The difference isn't about this school underperforming; it's about California's healthcare administration market paying less overall than many other states.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 means graduates earn back their total debt in roughly nine months of full-time work, assuming they dedicate all earnings to repayment. With 10% earnings growth to $30,344 by year four, the financial trajectory shows stability rather than dramatic advancement. Compare this to Santa Barbara City College's grads earning $48,712, and you see what's possible within the state—though community colleges typically carry less debt.

For families where $20,000 in debt is manageable and healthcare administration appeals as a career, this program delivers predictable results. The 57% Pell Grant rate suggests it serves students who need affordable entry into healthcare careers. Just understand you're buying access to a stable but modest-paying field, not a path to above-average earnings in California's competitive healthcare landscape.