Health/Medical Preparatory Programs: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
$57,743 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,743
- Federal debt
- $15,962
- Reporting programs
- 11
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $51,601
- Federal debt
- $13,997
- Reporting programs
- 29
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,585
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Reporting programs
- 59
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,699
- Federal debt
- $25,567
- Reporting programs
- 5
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $68,501
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $135,372
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $72,581
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)
- Year-4 earnings
- $94,327
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Azusa Pacific University$91,7762Rappahannock Community College$66,5293National Park College$65,9834Montcalm Community College$62,8835Three Rivers College$52,6036Trident Technical College$52,5507Midlands Technical College$47,2958East Mississippi Community College$36,2109Meredith CollegeNot available10Northeastern Technical CollegeNot availableObserved year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azusa Pacific UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Azusa, CA | $91,776 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,212 |
| 2 | Rappahannock Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Glenns, VA | $66,529 | $10,837 | Baseline needed | $4,343 |
| 3 | National Park CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Hot Springs, AR | $65,983 | $14,740 | Baseline needed | $12,720 |
| 4 | Montcalm Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sidney, MI | $62,883 | Not available | Baseline needed | $7,280 |
| 5 | Three Rivers CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Poplar Bluff, MO | $52,603 | $15,962 | Baseline needed | $8,496 |
| 6 | Trident Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Charleston, SC | $52,550 | $17,239 | Baseline needed | $1,406 |
| 7 | Midlands Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | West Columbia, SC | $47,295 | $13,250 | Baseline needed | $4,647 |
| 8 | East Mississippi Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Scooba, MS | $36,210 | $8,375 | Baseline needed | $4,608 |
| 9 | Meredith CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Raleigh, NC | Not available | $30,335 | Baseline needed | $22,488 |
| 10 | Northeastern Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Cheraw, SC | Not available | $18,933 | Baseline needed | $6,913 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Pacific UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Glendora, CA | Not available | $18,500 | Baseline needed | $22,677 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.