Health and Medical Administrative Services at UEI College-Gardena

UEI College-Gardena's medical administrative services certificate starts graduates at just under $25,000—well below both national and California medians for this credential. Among California's 155 programs, it ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning most in-state alternatives deliver stronger initial outcomes. The debt load of $9,500 matches the state median but feels heavier when you're earning $24,781 right out of the gate. Compare this to top California performers like Santa Barbara City College (nearly $47,000 starting) or North-West College-Van Nuys ($41,000), and the gap becomes stark.

The silver lining is meaningful earnings growth—28% over four years brings graduates to nearly $32,000. That's solid momentum for a certificate program serving predominantly Pell-eligible students (76%), though it still trails what many programs deliver from day one. The 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't catastrophic, but this credential appears to function more as a foothold in healthcare administration than a direct path to financial security.

For families banking on quick workforce entry with manageable debt, this program delivers on the "manageable" part. But your child would likely be better served exploring higher-performing California programs that offer similar credentials without the multi-year climb to competitive wages. The question isn't whether graduates can succeed—it's whether they need to work harder than necessary to get there.