Best Value Healthcare Programs (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Unitek College (CA) has the highest-paying healthcare program in EDsmart Data's analysis, at $120,006 in first-year earnings. Across 5,178 programs reporting earnings, the median is $29,888 with $14,010 in median federal debt.
Key Facts
- Top program: Unitek College ($120,006 year-1 earnings)
- Median year-1 earnings: $29,888
- Median federal debt: $14,010
- Programs with earnings data: 5,178
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Highest-paying healthcare certificates and associate degrees
Registered nursing leads short healthcare credentials
Our analysis finds Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (associate) pays $68,114 in year one, the most of any sub-baccalaureate healthcare field.
Fields with at least 8 programs reporting first-year earnings.
Healthcare program value by field
| Field | Credential | Year-1 earnings | Year-5 earnings | Median debt | Debt as % of year-1 pay | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $68,114 | $75,988 | $30,500 | 44.8% | 921 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Certificate | $65,041 | $72,079 | $26,750 | 41.1% | 35 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate | $58,246 | $64,215 | $24,931 | 42.8% | 541 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate | $56,024 | $56,201 | $22,624 | 40.4% | 195 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate | $51,744 | $59,073 | $32,832 | 63.5% | 25 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Associate | $47,884 | $55,150 | $24,487 | 51.1% | 62 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate | $46,830 | $53,084 | $17,317 | 37.0% | 644 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | $45,599 | $47,419 | $16,048 | 35.2% | 257 |
| Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate | $41,025 | $35,978 | $19,464 | 47.4% | 10 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Associate | $39,329 | $41,673 | $20,000 | 50.9% | 8 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | Associate | $36,180 | $47,073 | $10,209 | 28.2% | 9 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate | $35,370 | $37,958 | $26,250 | 74.2% | 442 |
| Public Health | Associate | $33,828 | $41,022 | $30,312 | 89.6% | 12 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | Associate | $32,798 | $50,427 | $13,313 | 40.6% | 40 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Certificate | $32,649 | $37,412 | $11,750 | 36.0% | 20 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Associate | $31,072 | $37,482 | $19,185 | 61.7% | 35 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate | $31,071 | $36,407 | $3,167 | 10.2% | 79 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Associate | $30,013 | $36,047 | $25,562 | 85.2% | 236 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | Associate | $26,596 | $45,584 | $13,149 | 49.4% | 15 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate | $26,452 | $30,741 | $10,623 | 40.2% | 439 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate | $26,106 | $30,548 | $9,500 | 36.4% | 591 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate | $23,402 | $29,691 | $9,500 | 40.6% | 307 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Associate | $22,913 | $20,453 | $26,712 | 116.6% | 10 |
| Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services | Certificate | $20,801 | $25,303 | $9,375 | 45.1% | 193 |
| Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies | Certificate | $19,217 | $30,608 | $7,680 | 40.0% | 10 |
Top 50 best-value healthcare programs by first-year earnings
| Rank · School | State | Program | Credential | Year-1 earnings | Median debt | Earnings per $1 of debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Unitek College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $120,006 | $27,113 | $4.43 |
| 2. Anne Arundel Community College | MD | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | $119,581 | $23,125 | $5.17 |
| 3. Crafton Hills College | CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | $117,351 | $23,000 | $5.10 |
| 4. Yuba College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $117,283 | $8,729 | $13.44 |
| 5. Mendocino College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $113,261 | — | — |
| 6. Pacific Union College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $110,696 | $27,000 | $4.10 |
| 7. Foothill College | CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate | $107,048 | $12,000 | $8.92 |
| 8. Merced College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $107,024 | $12,750 | $8.39 |
| 9. Canada College | CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate | $106,691 | $15,000 | $7.11 |
| 10. Moorpark College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $105,599 | $17,075 | $6.18 |
| 11. American Career College-Los Angeles | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $105,516 | $34,498 | $3.06 |
| 12. Carrington College-Sacramento | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $104,423 | $35,740 | $2.92 |
| 13. Butte College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $104,268 | $15,375 | $6.78 |
| 14. Red Rocks Community College | CO | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate | $104,021 | $22,170 | $4.69 |
| 15. Cochran School of Nursing | NY | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $102,553 | $26,758 | $3.83 |
| 16. University of Hawaii Maui College | HI | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $102,390 | $11,577 | $8.84 |
| 17. Santa Barbara City College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $101,955 | $21,037 | $4.85 |
| 18. Contra Costa College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $101,064 | $12,125 | $8.34 |
| 19. Glendale Career College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Certificate | $100,874 | $33,930 | $2.97 |
| 20. Santa Rosa Junior College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $100,800 | $14,700 | $6.86 |
| 21. Sacramento City College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $100,622 | $18,451 | $5.45 |
| 22. CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | NY | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate | $100,611 | $13,900 | $7.24 |
| 23. American River College | CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate | $100,258 | — | — |
| 24. City College of San Francisco | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $100,031 | $10,332 | $9.68 |
| 25. Lemoore College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $99,992 | $14,000 | $7.14 |
| 26. Coalinga College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $99,984 | $13,350 | $7.49 |
| 27. Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing | VA | Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | Associate | $99,851 | $29,500 | $3.38 |
| 28. Ventura College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $99,778 | $20,250 | $4.93 |
| 29. Shasta College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $99,544 | $15,000 | $6.64 |
| 30. Modesto Junior College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $99,339 | $11,279 | $8.81 |
| 31. Cuesta College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $99,000 | $18,958 | $5.22 |
| 32. American River College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $98,951 | $20,341 | $4.86 |
| 33. College of the Sequoias | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $98,926 | $16,152 | $6.12 |
| 34. College of Marin | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $98,893 | $22,125 | $4.47 |
| 35. College of the Redwoods | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $98,703 | $20,000 | $4.94 |
| 36. Santa Ana College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $98,493 | $16,739 | $5.88 |
| 37. California Career College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $98,486 | $26,331 | $3.74 |
| 38. CUNY Hostos Community College | NY | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,888 | $11,433 | $8.56 |
| 39. San Joaquin Delta College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,843 | — | — |
| 40. College of the Canyons | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,457 | $17,250 | $5.65 |
| 41. Swedish Institute a College of Health Sciences | NY | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,085 | $34,750 | $2.79 |
| 42. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,011 | $22,750 | $4.26 |
| 43. San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Mirage | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,011 | $22,750 | $4.26 |
| 44. San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $97,011 | $22,750 | $4.26 |
| 45. Glendale Career College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $96,185 | $33,049 | $2.91 |
| 46. North-West College-San Diego | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $96,185 | $33,049 | $2.91 |
| 47. Glendale Career College-North-West College-Bakersfield | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $96,185 | $33,049 | $2.91 |
| 48. Glendale Career College-North-West College-MFSON | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $96,185 | $33,049 | $2.91 |
| 49. Rio Hondo College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Associate | $95,666 | $15,510 | $6.17 |
| 50. Molloy University | NY | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate | $94,599 | $27,500 | $3.44 |
Healthcare programs with the most earnings per dollar borrowed
Programs reporting both first-year earnings and median debt.
| School | State | Program | Year-1 earnings | Median debt | Earnings per $1 of debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Community Career & Technical Institute | NJ | Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $28,848 | $2,020 | $14.28 |
| New Community Career & Technical Institute | NJ | Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies | $27,718 | $2,020 | $13.72 |
| South Texas College | TX | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $68,727 | $5,062 | $13.58 |
| Yuba College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $117,283 | $8,729 | $13.44 |
| SOWELA Technical Community College | LA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $72,690 | $5,606 | $12.97 |
| Laredo College | TX | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $78,162 | $6,500 | $12.02 |
| Fresno City College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,961 | $8,000 | $11.50 |
| Victor Valley College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,138 | $8,500 | $10.72 |
| CUNY Bronx Community College | NY | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $83,382 | $7,800 | $10.69 |
| Northeast State Community College | TN | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $65,160 | $6,511 | $10.01 |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College | NY | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $83,306 | $8,475 | $9.83 |
| Pima Medical Institute-El Paso | TX | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Denver | CO | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Tucson | AZ | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-East Valley | AZ | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Renton | WA | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Houston | TX | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Antonio | TX | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Pima Medical Institute-San Marcos | CA | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $31,071 | $3,167 | $9.81 |
| Mt San Antonio College | CA | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $88,132 | $9,000 | $9.79 |
| City College of San Francisco | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $100,031 | $10,332 | $9.68 |
| Florida Gateway College | FL | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $54,209 | $5,625 | $9.64 |
| Motlow State Community College | TN | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $66,609 | $7,086 | $9.40 |
| Phoenix College | AZ | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $87,436 | $9,354 | $9.35 |
| Bakersfield College | CA | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $86,312 | $9,419 | $9.16 |
What the data shows
Value means what you earn for what you pay. The ranking puts first-year earnings first because it is the outcome students feel right away; the earnings-per-dollar column shows which healthcare programs deliver the most pay for each dollar borrowed.
Programs missing from this list are not necessarily bad; many simply have too few federal-aid graduates for the Department of Education to publish earnings.
Methodology
Program figures come from the College Scorecard field-of-study file: one record per institution × 4-digit CIP code × credential level. Earnings are median annual earnings of federal-aid recipients who completed the program and were working and not enrolled, measured 1, 4, and 5 years after completion (in the dollar year of the Scorecard release). Debt is the median federal loan balance (Stafford and Grad PLUS) at completion; private loans and Parent PLUS are excluded. Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education and drop out of each column.
Earnings per $1 of debt = median first-year earnings ÷ median federal debt at completion. Programs without published debt show a dash.
Graduate-only health fields (dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and similar) are excluded, as are health certificates at bachelor's- or graduate-predominant universities, which are usually post-degree credentials (such as nurse anesthesia) rather than entry-level training.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best-value healthcare program?
By first-year earnings, Unitek College in CA leads at $120,006, based on College Scorecard program data.
How much do healthcare program graduates earn?
The median program pays $29,888 in the first year after completion.
How much debt do healthcare students take on?
Median federal debt at completion is $14,010 across programs that report it.
Which healthcare certificate pays the most?
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (associate) has the highest median first-year pay at $68,114.
Data sources
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard institution and field-of-study files (latest release in our extract)