Location: Bluefield, WV•In-State Tuition: $10,240•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,560•Admission Rate: 87%•Avg SAT: 998
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$39,229
Est. from WV median (3 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,592
Est. from national median (112 programs)

Analysis

The estimated $26,500 debt load is meaningfully lower than what health administration graduates typically carry—both compared to the national median of $31,000 and the state average of $30,000. That's a genuine advantage for Bluefield State students, particularly at a school where 41% of students receive Pell grants. However, peer programs in West Virginia suggest first-year earnings around $39,200, which trails the national median of $44,300 by about $5,000 annually. Whether that gap reflects West Virginia's lower cost of living or weaker job markets for healthcare administrators is worth investigating.

The 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio looks reasonable on paper—you'd owe roughly eight months of gross salary. But context matters: similar programs at WVU and WVU Tech show identical earnings patterns, suggesting this reflects the regional healthcare administration market rather than anything specific to Bluefield State. The real question is whether healthcare administration roles in West Virginia offer enough advancement potential to offset that $5,000 national earnings gap over a career, and whether your child plans to stay in the state after graduation.

If your child is committed to staying in West Virginia and values a lower debt burden over higher initial earnings, this program's estimated outcomes align with state norms. But if they're considering working elsewhere after graduation, compare what administrators earn in those specific markets—the gap between West Virginia and higher-paying regions could be substantial enough to reconsider the investment.

Where Bluefield State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all health and medical administrative services bachelors's programs nationally

Bluefield State University (estimated ±10%)Other health and medical administrative services programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in West Virginia

Health and Medical Administrative Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in West Virginia (8 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Bluefield State UniversityBluefield$10,240$39,229*—$26,592*—
West Virginia University Institute of TechnologyBeckley$8,064$39,229*—$30,000*0.76
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown$9,648$39,229*—$30,000*0.76
Fairmont State UniversityFairmont$8,454$35,741*——*—
National Median—$44,345*—$30,998*0.70
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with health and medical administrative services graduates

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

$103,960/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Bluefield State University, approximately 41% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in WV. Actual outcomes may vary.