Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at South Florida Institute of Technology

These earnings numbers are troubling. Graduates of this program earn just $16,128 in their first year—roughly $8 per hour if working full-time—landing in the 10th percentile among Florida's 99 allied health certificate programs. To put that in perspective, Miami Dade College's graduates in the same field earn more than twice as much ($34,527), and even the statewide median for this credential is $26,264. While debt remains relatively low at $5,679, earning barely above minimum wage with a technical certificate represents a failed investment.

The 20% earnings growth to $19,274 by year four doesn't rescue this outcome—that's still poverty-level income for full-time work and half what graduates should expect from Florida allied health programs. With 68% of students here receiving Pell grants, this institution appears to be serving low-income students particularly poorly, leaving them with credentials that don't translate to living wages even in Miami's healthcare market.

Skip this program entirely. Dozens of Florida community colleges and technical schools offer identical allied health certificates that lead to incomes in the $30,000+ range. Your child would be better served attending a local public institution where classmates from similar programs are earning double these amounts within a year of graduation.