Health and Medical Administrative Services at Southeastern College-Charleston

Southeastern College-Charleston's health administration certificate starts above both state and national medians—graduates earn $29,499 their first year, positioning them in the 60th percentile among South Carolina programs. The $18,131 in debt is higher than the national median but matches the state average, creating a manageable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle within a few years.

The concerning pattern emerges over time: earnings drop 24% by year four to just $22,543, falling below the state median and creating a worse financial position than at graduation. This backward trajectory is unusual for any career path and suggests graduates may be hitting a ceiling in entry-level roles or struggling with job stability. With 67% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on credential-to-career momentum that these numbers don't support.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could skew this picture significantly, but you can't ignore the direction. If your child pursues this certificate, they should have a specific plan for career advancement beyond entry-level positions, because the typical graduate isn't seeing wage growth in those first critical years after graduation.