Health and Medical Administrative Services at Bellarmine University

The $33,345 debt load estimated for this program sits above what other Kentucky health administration programs typically charge—state benchmarks suggest $25,750—while comparable programs across the state produce first-year earnings clustering around $44,500. That debt premium raises a practical question: what's driving the extra borrowing at Bellarmine, and does this program deliver anything that justifies it?

The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming on its face, but context matters. University of Kentucky graduates in this field start at roughly $46,500, suggesting the state's flagship produces marginally better outcomes without the additional debt burden. Healthcare administration roles often reward institutional connections and internship networks more than brand prestige, which means paying extra for a Bellarmine degree may not translate to faster career advancement or higher starting salaries in Louisville's competitive healthcare market.

For parents weighing this investment, the core question is whether Bellarmine offers specialized placement pipelines or relationships with major healthcare employers that would offset the higher borrowing. Without concrete evidence of superior outcomes—and given that these figures are based on similar programs rather than tracked Bellarmine graduates—treating this as equivalent to less expensive Kentucky alternatives makes financial sense. If your student is set on Bellarmine for other reasons, push hard for merit aid that brings total debt below $27,000.