Health and Medical Administrative Services at Southern Careers Institute-Waco

This program offers below-average earnings potential that actually declines over time, making it a questionable investment despite relatively modest debt levels. Graduates earn $23,883 in their first year—about $4,000 less than the national average for similar programs and $1,750 below the Texas median. More concerning, earnings drop slightly by year four rather than growing, which is unusual for career-focused training programs.

While the $9,500 debt load matches the Texas median and creates a manageable 0.40 debt-to-earnings ratio, the earnings performance is troubling. Among Texas health administration programs, this ranks only in the 40th percentile, meaning 60% of similar programs in the state produce better outcomes. Top programs like Galveston College ($34,532) and Dallas College ($34,135) generate nearly 50% higher earnings, suggesting stronger job placement networks or curriculum quality elsewhere.

The bottom line: your child could likely find better-performing health administration programs within Texas that offer similar low debt but significantly higher earning potential. With 97 programs statewide to choose from, this particular option doesn't represent the best value, especially given that earnings stagnate rather than grow with experience.