UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 5111

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs: is this undergraduate certificate or diploma worth it?

National picture across 11 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$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.

$57,743Median year-4 earnings
$10,708Average institution net-price context
$15,962Median federal debt
Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →
A PRACTICAL READ

Four useful answers about Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

How much do Health/Medical Preparatory Programs undergraduate certificate or diploma graduates earn?

The national median is $57,743 four years after completion across reportable undergraduate certificate or diploma programs in this federal field.

How much federal debt do graduates have?

The median reported federal debt is $15,962. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.

Does the college matter for Health/Medical Preparatory Programs?

Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $47,295 to $65,983 in observed year-4 earnings.

What careers are related to Health/Medical Preparatory Programs?

DegreeVerdict links this field to 1 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$57,743Median reported earnings · year 4
$56,975Average reported earnings · year 5
$15,962Median federal debt
65thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
264IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
8With year-4 earnings

The award total covers 5 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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.

CURRENT VIEW

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings
$57,743
Federal debt
$15,962
Reporting programs
11
8 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$51,601
Federal debt
$13,997
Reporting programs
29
28 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$62,585
Federal debt
$25,000
Reporting programs
59
51 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings
$49,699
Federal debt
$25,567
Reporting programs
5
2 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings
$68,501
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings
$135,372
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings
$72,581
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
1
1 report earnings →
OPEN PROFILE

Non-Credential Program (Preparatory Coursework/Teacher Certification)

Year-4 earnings
$94,327
Federal debt
Not available
Reporting programs
2
2 report earnings →
COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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.

Median
25th percentile$47,295National median$57,74375th percentile$65,983
8 programs report year‑4 earnings.
DECISION CHECK

What to compare before choosing a program

The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.

$65,98375th-percentile year-4 earnings among reporting programs
$15,962Median federal debt across programs that report it
2Programs with earnings in the top quarter and debt at or below the median
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP

Where colleges sit for this exact degree

Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.

All reporting colleges Lower-price, higher-earnings quadrantAxes trim the outer 5% for readability; outliers remain pinned to the chart edge. Price is institution-wide context, not exact program tuition.
Compare colleges

Put the same degree side by side.

Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.

Compare 3 programs →
Build your shortlist

Choose colleges offering this exact degree

Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.

11 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
1Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$91,776Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$22,212
2Rappahannock Community CollegeGlenns, VA · PublicYear-4 earnings$66,529Federal debt$10,837Annual net price$4,343
3National Park CollegeHot Springs, AR · PublicYear-4 earnings$65,983Federal debt$14,740Annual net price$12,720
4Montcalm Community CollegeSidney, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$62,883Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$7,280
5Three Rivers CollegePoplar Bluff, MO · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,603Federal debt$15,962Annual net price$8,496
6Trident Technical CollegeCharleston, SC · PublicYear-4 earnings$52,550Federal debt$17,239Annual net price$1,406
7Midlands Technical CollegeWest Columbia, SC · PublicYear-4 earnings$47,295Federal debt$13,250Annual net price$4,647
8East Mississippi Community CollegeScooba, MS · PublicYear-4 earnings$36,210Federal debt$8,375Annual net price$4,608
9Meredith CollegeRaleigh, NC · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$30,335Annual net price$22,488
10Northeastern Technical CollegeCheraw, SC · PublicYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$18,933Annual net price$6,913
11Los Angeles Pacific UniversityGlendora, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$18,500Annual net price$22,677
Open the full program search →
WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

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 available

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

Career outlook

Related occupations, wages and demand

Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.

NO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999

BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.

BEST COLLEGES FOR HEALTH/MEDICAL PREPARATORY PROGRAMS

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.

#CollegeLocationEarnings, year 4Federal debtROI statusCost context
1Azusa Pacific UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaAzusa, CA$91,776Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$22,212
2Rappahannock Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaGlenns, VA$66,529$10,837WithheldBaseline needed$4,343
3National Park CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaHot Springs, AR$65,983$14,740WithheldBaseline needed$12,720
4Montcalm Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaSidney, MI$62,883Not availableWithheldBaseline needed$7,280
5Three Rivers CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaPoplar Bluff, MO$52,603$15,962WithheldBaseline needed$8,496
6Trident Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaCharleston, SC$52,550$17,239WithheldBaseline needed$1,406
7Midlands Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaWest Columbia, SC$47,295$13,250WithheldBaseline needed$4,647
8East Mississippi Community CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaScooba, MS$36,210$8,375WithheldBaseline needed$4,608
9Meredith CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaRaleigh, NCNot available$30,335WithheldBaseline needed$22,488
10Northeastern Technical CollegeUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaCheraw, SCNot available$18,933WithheldBaseline needed$6,913
11Los Angeles Pacific UniversityUndergraduate Certificate or DiplomaGlendora, CANot available$18,500WithheldBaseline 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.