Location: Sioux City, IA•In-State Tuition: $5,042•Out-of-State Tuition: $5,186
Median Earnings (1yr)
$31,546
81st percentile
40th percentile in Iowa
Median Debt
$16,343
58% above national median
D/E Ratio: 0.52 ManageableSample: 26 graduates Limited data

Analysis

The earnings trajectory here is the red flag: graduates start at $31,546—well above the national median—but by year four, income drops to $21,627. That 31% decline is unusual and concerning, especially given the $16,343 debt load. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could be skewing these numbers, but the pattern suggests graduates may struggle to maintain their initial positions or advance in this field.

Within Iowa, this program sits squarely in the middle, ranking at the 40th percentile. Northeast Iowa Community College and Des Moines Area Community College both show significantly stronger outcomes, with graduates earning $5,000-$7,000 more annually. The debt here is fairly typical for Iowa programs in this field, but when paired with declining earnings rather than growth, the return on investment weakens considerably.

Before committing to this program, you'd want to understand why earnings drop so sharply. Is this driven by part-time work patterns? Career changes? Or difficulty finding stable positions in Sioux City's healthcare administration job market? With such a small cohort, those answers matter—and you might find better clarity and stronger outcomes at the higher-performing Iowa community colleges nearby.

Where Western Iowa Tech Community College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all health and medical administrative services certificate's programs nationally

Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeOther health and medical administrative services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Western Iowa Tech Community College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Western Iowa Tech Community College earns $32k — 81th percentile among health and medical administrative services certificate programs.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Western Iowa Tech Community College$31,546$21,627-31%
Durham Technical Community College$70,267$55,326-21%
Des Moines Area Community College$35,662$33,282-7%
Orion Technical College$30,351$28,916-5%
Ross College-Davenport$28,570$28,742+1%

Compare to Similar Programs in Iowa

Health and Medical Administrative Services certificate's programs at peer institutions in Iowa (13 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City$5,042$31,546$21,627$16,3430.52
Northeast Iowa Community CollegeCalmar$6,600$36,716—$20,5000.56
Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny$5,550$35,662$33,282$17,0000.48
Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo$6,308$32,126—$21,5000.67
Orion Technical CollegeDavenport$15,600$30,351$28,916$9,5000.31
Ross College-DavenportDavenport—$28,570$28,742$9,5000.33
National Median—$27,783—$10,3720.37

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with health and medical administrative services graduates

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

$103,960/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Western Iowa Tech Community College, approximately 25% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 26 graduates with reported earnings and 36 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.