Health and Medical Administrative Services at Charleston Southern University

Based on comparable programs in South Carolina, this bachelor's in healthcare administration produces estimated first-year earnings around $35,000—roughly $9,000 below the national median for this field. That's a significant gap when healthcare administration programs elsewhere routinely push graduates past $44,000 in their first year. The estimated debt load of $33,345 nearly matches that first year's salary, creating a tight financial squeeze right when graduates need flexibility most.

The state comparison offers little comfort. Among South Carolina's healthcare administration programs with reported data, only Francis Marion posts lower earnings than what similar programs suggest for Charleston Southern. South University-Columbia graduates earn roughly $4,700 more in their first year, while even mid-tier state programs cluster around $36,500. For a field where administrative roles typically require immediate professional credibility, starting near the bottom of the state range limits your child's negotiating power and career trajectory.

Here's the practical reality: healthcare administration offers stable employment, but this program's estimated outcomes suggest your child would carry debt nearly equal to their entire first-year salary while earning thousands less than peers from other SC schools. Unless Charleston Southern offers specific advantages—location for your family, scholarship money that dramatically reduces that debt estimate, or particular healthcare system connections—stronger programs exist within the state that peer data suggests would deliver better financial positioning from day one.