Health and Medical Administrative Services at Valley College-Cleveland

Valley College-Cleveland graduates earn $22,879 in their first year—barely above minimum wage and roughly $9,000 less than typical Ohio graduates in this field. While the debt load of $19,936 isn't catastrophic in absolute terms, it translates to nearly a full year's salary when you're only making $23,000. Compare this to Cuyahoga Community College just down the road, where similar programs launch graduates into $42,000 jobs. That's an $18,000 annual difference that compounds over a career.

The concerning piece here isn't just the low starting point—it's that these earnings rank in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile statewide for health administration programs. Even among Ohio schools, which themselves trail national averages, Valley College sits in the bottom quartile. With 77% of students receiving Pell grants, most families here are making significant financial sacrifices for outcomes that fall well short of what's achievable at nearby alternatives.

For parents considering this program, the math is straightforward: your child will likely need multiple years to pay off this debt on these earnings, and they'll be starting their career at a significant disadvantage compared to peers from other local programs. Unless there are compelling logistical reasons why other Cleveland-area schools won't work, this investment doesn't make financial sense.