Health and Medical Administrative Services at State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota

Based on comparable health administration programs across Florida, State College of Florida graduates can expect first-year earnings around $39,700—notably below both the national median ($44,345) and what top Florida programs deliver. Barry University's graduates, for instance, earn more than 50% above this estimate, while even Santa Fe College, another state institution, shows slightly higher outcomes. The gap suggests either market positioning challenges or that the program serves a different segment of the healthcare administration field.

The estimated $20,500 in debt offers a significant advantage over the state median of nearly $43,000 for similar programs. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary—manageable by most standards. With over a third of students receiving Pell grants, the lower debt burden particularly matters for families without safety nets. The tradeoff is straightforward: you're accepting earnings in the bottom tier of Florida health administration programs in exchange for substantially less financial risk.

For parents, this comes down to career trajectory expectations. If your child plans to enter healthcare administration and work their way up within a system, the lower debt provides flexibility early on. But if credential prestige or immediate earning power matters—perhaps to quickly pay off living expenses or support family—the earnings gap compared to peer programs deserves serious consideration before committing.