Health and Medical Administrative Services at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College

Southwest Wisconsin Technical College's medical administrative certificate punches well above its weight nationally—graduates earn $38,437 in their first year, placing this program in the 95th percentile compared to similar certificates nationwide. That's nearly $11,000 more than the national median. With debt of just $13,381, new graduates owe roughly four months of income, a manageable starting point. However, the 7% earnings decline by year four suggests these initial positions may have limited growth potential.

The Wisconsin picture is more complex. While this program still outperforms the state median by about $5,000, it sits at the 60th percentile among Wisconsin's 22 medical administrative programs. Madison Area Technical College's graduates earn $43,000+, and several other in-state options also show stronger outcomes. The decline to $35,891 by year four is particularly notable given that other Wisconsin programs may offer more stable trajectories.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a few outliers could significantly skew these numbers either way. For a family weighing options, this program offers solid initial earnings and reasonable debt, but parents should investigate whether those first-year salaries reflect sustainable careers or entry-level positions with plateaus. If your student is committed to staying local in Southwest Wisconsin, this may be the practical choice. If they're willing to commute to Madison or the Fox Valley, exploring those higher-earning programs would be worth the drive time.