Health and Medical Administrative Services (Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma) at Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen

Median Earnings (1yr)

$23,883

21st percentile

40th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$9,500

8% below national median

Analysis

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.

Where Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all health and medical administrative services certificate's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School	1 Year	4 Years	Growth
Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen	$23,883	$23,676	-1%
San Jacinto Community College	$33,410	$37,001	+11%
Lamson Institute	$29,313	$35,485	+21%
The College of Health Care Professions-Austin	$31,619	$33,930	+7%
The College of Health Care Professions-Dallas	$31,619	$33,930	+7%

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

Health and Medical Administrative Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Texas (97 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Southern Careers Institute-HarlingenHarlingen	—	$23,883	$23,676	$9,500	0.40
Galveston CollegeGalveston	$2,546	$34,532	—	—	—
Dallas CollegeDallas	$2,370	$34,135	$33,568	—	—
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadena	$1,992	$33,410	$37,001	$16,000	0.48
The College of Health Care Professions-AustinAustin	—	$31,619	$33,930	$9,500	0.30
The College of Health Care Professions-DallasDallas	—	$31,619	$33,930	$9,500	0.30
National Median	—	$27,783	—	$10,372	0.37

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with health and medical administrative services graduates

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

$103,960/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen, approximately 75% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 608 graduates with reported earnings and 722 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.