Health and Medical Administrative Services at Belhaven University

Belhaven's Health and Medical Administrative Services program faces a challenging math problem: graduates carry $44,259 in debt while earning $39,022 in their first year—a debt burden that exceeds annual income. While earnings climb to $48,335 by year four (a solid 24% increase), that initial ratio means graduates will likely spend several years managing substantial loan payments on modest starting salaries.

Here's where context matters. Among Mississippi's six programs in this field, Belhaven ranks in the 60th percentile for earnings—meaning graduates actually earn more than at most in-state alternatives. The program significantly outperforms Jackson State's $30,860 starting salary. However, the debt load matches the state median of $44,567, which is problematic when Mississippi's typical healthcare administrator starts at just $34,941. Nationally, the picture dims: Belhaven's graduates earn in only the 21st percentile compared to similar programs elsewhere, where the median starting salary is $44,345.

The core issue isn't the program quality—it's the combination of geographic location and debt structure. Healthcare administration salaries in Mississippi lag behind national norms, yet the debt burden remains high. For a Mississippi resident planning to stay in-state, this program delivers competitive local outcomes despite the tight first-year finances. For students with options to attend programs in higher-wage states, the earnings gap becomes harder to justify given similar debt levels.