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

This program falls squarely in the middle of California's healthcare admin landscape—literally matching the state median at $27,553 first-year earnings—but trails the national median by about $4,000. While the 60th state percentile sounds reasonable, it's worth noting that top California programs like Santa Barbara City College nearly double these earnings at $48,712, suggesting significant variation in outcomes even within the same field and state.

The $20,000 debt load is manageable but not inconsequential at 73% of first-year earnings. Graduates essentially face seven to eight months of their annual salary in debt, which is workable for an entry-level healthcare admin position but leaves little margin for error if employment is delayed. The 10% earnings growth to $30,344 by year four suggests steady if unspectacular career progression—this isn't a field where early-career salary jumps are dramatic.

For families choosing between California programs, this represents a middle-ground option: cheaper tuition than some competitors but without the earning power of community college alternatives like Santa Barbara. The nearly 50% Pell grant population indicates the school serves students who may have fewer alternatives, which adds important context. If your child can access a community college program in this field, the data strongly suggests exploring that route first.