Health and Medical Administrative Services at Sullivan University

Sullivan University graduates in this health administration certificate program earn $38,362 within a year—placing them at the 95th percentile nationally and 80th percentile among Kentucky programs. That's $11,700 more than the typical graduate from similar programs nationwide and $11,724 more than the Kentucky median. Only Jefferson Community and Technical College and MedQuest College produce slightly higher earners in the state.

The tradeoff is debt. At $21,031, graduates carry about twice the national median for this credential and $6,181 more than Kentucky's typical program. That said, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 means graduates earn enough to service this debt reasonably—roughly half a year's salary, which falls in manageable territory for a certificate program. The concerning element is flat earnings: four years out, graduates make essentially the same $38,121, suggesting limited advancement opportunity despite the strong starting position.

This program commands a premium price but delivers premium results at graduation. If your child plans to work in healthcare administration immediately and values entering the field with above-average earning power, the investment makes sense. But the stagnant earnings trajectory means they'll need to leverage that strong start into further credentials or advancement opportunities to justify the higher debt load over time.