Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 at Patrick & Henry Community College
VA · Associate's Degree · CIP 51.39
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Health Professions and Related Programs — CIP 51.39 degree from Patrick & Henry Community College earn a median salary of $47,631 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in VA, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $46,469. The degree typically pays for itself in 15 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$36,817
Typical Career
$47,631
Top Performers
$63,044
Estimated break-even: 15 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$318
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,969. Most students can comfortably afford about a $318 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.2x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.6x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in Virginia buys what costs $1.03 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, Educational Services.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$46,469
Nominal: $47,631 in Virginia (COL 102.5% of national avg) · 2.4% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $31,704 | $42,116 | $52,444 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $36,817 | $47,631 | $63,044 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $44,398 | $52,165 | $67,967 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $47,631 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in VA, which has a cost-of-living index of 102.5% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $47,631 × (1.0 ÷ 1.0250)
= $46,469 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The majority of graduates enter the Health Care & Social Assistance sector, with 26.9%, 25.9%, and 21.8% of graduates finding employment in this field. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 15 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for pursuing a degree in this program appears reasonable. The consistent demand for health professionals suggests a stable career outlook, contributing to the overall viability of this educational path.
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Other Degrees at Patrick & Henry Community College
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.