Health and Medical Administrative Services at Wake Technical Community College

Wake Tech charges nearly double the typical debt for a health administration certificate ($19,000 vs. $10,372 nationally), but the first-year returns justify the investment—graduates earn $34,372, placing this program in the 95th percentile nationally. The challenge: earnings drop to $30,919 by year four, which still beats most competitors but suggests career progression may stall without additional credentials.

The North Carolina context tells a more complex story. While Wake Tech's program lands in the 60th percentile statewide for earnings, several community colleges deliver dramatically better outcomes—Durham Tech graduates earn more than twice as much ($70,267), and even Johnston Community College matches Wake Tech's results at presumably lower cost. The debt level is typical for North Carolina programs, where median borrowing for this certificate runs around $19,000, but that doesn't make it easier to manage on $31,000.

For parents, the calculation is straightforward: this program delivers strong initial earnings that outpace most of the country, but the debt burden is real and the earnings trajectory moves backward. If your student is committed to healthcare administration and staying in the Raleigh area, Wake Tech provides solid entry-level access. But if they're willing to commute or relocate within North Carolina, programs like Durham Tech or Johnston Community College offer substantially better value propositions.