HEALTH Specialization

Health/Medical Preparatory

Health/Medical Preparatory graduates earn $61,911 four years out. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,679 and $83,434. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and how far you advance in the field.

About Health/Medical Preparatory

This page covers Health/Medical Preparatory as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Health and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.

Health/Medical Preparatory is a focused area of study within Health. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $61,911 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 464 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 9,413 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Training is clinical and hands-on, often leading to licensure or certification.


Median Earnings · 1yr
$33,689
Median Earnings · 4yr
$61,911
Colleges Offering
464
Graduates / Year
9,413
Avg Net Price / yr
$16,676

How Much Do Health/Medical Preparatory Graduates Earn?

Four years after finishing Health/Medical Preparatory, a typical graduate earns $61,911, near the national median for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $42,679 and $83,434, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $33,689 at one year out to $61,911 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.

What that figure means in practice depends on what the degree cost to get, which is a matter of lifetime earnings against total outlay.

$33,689
1 Year After Graduation

Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.

$61,911
4-Year National Median

Near the national median for college graduates.

$62,543
4-Year Institutional Median

Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.


Earnings Range

Not every Health/Medical Preparatory graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Specialization and credential level drive most of the gap. Advanced practice roles (nurse practitioners, CRNAs, physician assistants) anchor the top; entry-level clinical and support roles sit at the bottom.


A Solid Financial Return

Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $61,911 and an estimated $66,704 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.1 years.

Based on outcomes from 237 schools. Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 9,413 students who complete Health/Medical Preparatory programs each year, the majority (41%) earn a bachelor's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Bachelor's 41%
Associate's 39%
Post-Bacc Cert. 8%

What Can You Do With a Health/Medical Preparatory Degree?

This degree does not lock you into one job. Health/Medical Preparatory graduates show up in 8 different occupations, and Cardiologist pays the most at $496,010/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

The best-paid of these is what a Cardiologist earns and how fast the role is growing, though entry requirements vary across the list.

↗ +4.8%
$496,010
$274K $610K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 500 openings/yr 17K employed nationally
↗ +3.4%
$420,860
$217K $506K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 700 openings/yr 27K employed nationally
↗ +3.6%
$391,490
$207K $491K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 1,100 openings/yr 39K employed nationally
↗ +4.0%
$358,550
$181K $531K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 400 openings/yr 14K employed nationally
↗ +3.2%
$335,550
$185K $419K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 900 openings/yr 33K employed nationally
↗ +6.8%
$328,730
$140K $452K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 400 openings/yr 11K employed nationally
↗ +4.8%
$312,400
$186K $373K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 300 openings/yr 11K employed nationally
↗ +4.5%
$300,080
$174K $422K 25th–75th pct.
Doctoral or professional degree 200 openings/yr 9K employed nationally

Top Colleges for Health/Medical Preparatory

Not sure where to study Health/Medical Preparatory? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

Ranked by score, that list starts with the cost and outcomes at Arizona State University Campus Immersion, and the rest follow the same measures.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public 385 89.9% $14,967 $62,668
2 Tulsa Community College Tulsa, OK · Public 275 Open $6,288 $39,746
3 Holmes Community College Goodman, MS · Public 212 Open $5,643 $32,922
4 Essex County College Newark, NJ · Public 202 Open $4,436 $37,230
5 Baylor University Waco, TX · Nonprofit 166 51.3% $41,104 $65,793
6 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR · Public 146 77.3% $19,604 $64,010
7 Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL · Public 139 69.8% $13,391 $57,808
8 Marshall University Huntington, WV · Public 132 95.7% $7,502 $46,354
9 Drexel University Philadelphia, PA · Nonprofit 130 79.4% $38,509 $84,648
10 Hudson County Community College Jersey City, NJ · Public 114 Open $7,307 $34,333
11 Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MA · Nonprofit 109 85.2% $39,545 $125,557
12 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH · Public 104 85.3% $25,648 $54,810
13 Arkansas State University-Beebe Beebe, AR · Public 101 Open $11,698 $36,603
14 University of South Alabama Mobile, AL · Public 99 71% $17,648 $49,379
15 Atlantic Cape Community College Mays Landing, NJ · Public 89 Open $8,392 $34,241
16 Gavilan College Gilroy, CA · Public 86 Open $6,542 $47,169
17 University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN · Nonprofit 85 11.3% $26,780 $99,980
18 East Mississippi Community College Scooba, MS · Public 78 Open $4,608 $33,772
19 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA · Public 77 93.3% $21,193 $62,569
20 National Park College Hot Springs, AR · Public 76 Open $12,720 $32,444

Ranked by Health/Medical Preparatory graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Health/Medical Preparatory program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Health/Medical Preparatory Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Health/Medical Preparatory shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS
  • Above-average earnings Four-year median of $61,911 puts graduates ahead of many humanities and social science programs.
  • Strong salary growth Median earnings climb from $33,689 at graduation to $61,911 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
  • Positive job outlook Related careers project up to +6.8% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
  • Wide availability Offered at 464 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
  • Licensure often required Most roles in this field require state licensure or certification before you can practice. Budget time and costs for board exams alongside your degree.

Health/Medical Preparatory Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Health/Medical Preparatory graduates earn?
$61,911 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $42,679 and $83,434, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Health/Medical Preparatory degree?
$33,689 in the first year out. That grows to $61,911 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Health/Medical Preparatory degree?
Cardiologist is one path, and it pays a median of $496,010 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Health/Medical Preparatory program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Health/Medical Preparatory bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Health/Medical Preparatory?
464 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Health/Medical Preparatory degree worth it?
$61,911 median earnings four years out against $16,676 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Health/Medical Preparatory and Health?
Health/Medical Preparatory is the narrower of the two: Health covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Health/Medical Preparatory-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Health/Medical Preparatory graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Health/Medical Preparatory graduates consistently look for clinical judgment, patient communication, and evidence-based decision-making. Licensure, certifications, and supervised clinical hours are typically required or strongly preferred in most roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Health/Medical Preparatory graduates?
Often, yes. Advanced degrees in this field (nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of physical therapy) typically come with significantly higher pay and a wider scope of practice, which is why most students in health fields eventually go back for one. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Health/Medical Preparatory graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +4.4% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Dermatologists are among the strongest-growth roles at +6.8%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.

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