Health and Medical Administrative Services at Valley College-Cleveland

Valley College-Cleveland's Health and Medical Administrative Services certificate graduates earn just $20,993 in their first year—about $7,500 below the Ohio median and nearly $7,000 below the national benchmark. Among Ohio's 85 programs, this ranks in only the 25th percentile, and nationally it falls into the bottom 5%. The state's top performers, like Stark State College, deliver earnings 70% higher for what's ostensibly the same credential.

The $9,500 debt load is manageable at face value, representing 45% of first-year earnings. However, when those earnings are this low—barely above minimum wage full-time work—even moderate debt becomes burdensome. With 77% of students receiving Pell grants, most graduates here are starting from economic disadvantage and need this certificate to deliver meaningful wage gains. At roughly $10/hour, it's not clear this program provides sufficient return on the time and money invested.

For healthcare administrative roles in Ohio, this certificate appears to underperform dramatically compared to similar programs across the state. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to attend Valley College specifically, families should seriously explore alternatives like Stark State or the University of Cincinnati system, where graduates earn 60-70% more in similar positions. The credential itself can lead to steady healthcare employment, but the school choice matters significantly for starting wages.