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

San Joaquin Valley College-Lancaster's medical administrative services program sits right at California's median for earnings, but significantly trails the national average by about $4,000 annually. The $27,553 first-year salary falls in the 24th percentile nationally, while ranking at the 60th percentile within California—suggesting this isn't a school-specific issue but rather a regional wage challenge. For context, the top California programs like Santa Barbara City College report nearly double these earnings at $48,712.

The debt load of $20,000 is manageable at 0.73 times first-year income, and graduates do see steady 10% earnings growth to $30,344 by year four. With 60% of students receiving Pell grants, this program serves a predominantly working-class population who may need to balance affordability with earning potential. The moderate sample size gives reasonable confidence in these figures.

The practical reality: this credential leads to modest wages in California's healthcare administration field, where entry-level medical office work typically doesn't command premium salaries. Families should recognize that graduates will likely need to budget carefully even with the relatively low debt burden, and that significantly higher-paying programs exist within the state if geography and admission requirements align.