Health and Medical Administrative Services at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen

This Health and Medical Administrative Services certificate from Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen presents concerning value for the investment. With median earnings of just $23,883 one year after graduation—falling in only the 21st percentile nationally—graduates earn significantly less than the national median of $27,783. More troubling, earnings actually decline slightly to $23,676 by year four, indicating this is an "early peak" career with limited growth potential.

While the program performs better within Texas (40th percentile), it still lags the state median of $25,639 by nearly $2,000 annually. The debt load of $9,500 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.40, but when your starting salary is this low, even modest debt becomes burdensome. Texas offers much stronger alternatives—programs at Galveston College and Dallas College produce graduates earning over $34,000, representing a $10,000+ annual premium that compounds over a career.

The fact that 75% of students receive Pell grants suggests this program serves lower-income students who need strong employment outcomes most. Unfortunately, these earnings barely exceed what many entry-level positions offer without formal training. Unless you have specific geographic constraints keeping you in the Harlingen area, this program represents poor value compared to other Texas options in the same field.