Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degree) at Columbia Southern University

Median Earnings (1yr)

$39,247

90th percentile

80th percentile in Alabama

Median Debt

$23,209

1% above national median

Analysis

Columbia Southern University's online associate's program in healthcare administration delivers surprisingly strong outcomes for students willing to work remotely in Alabama's healthcare sector. At $39,247 in first-year earnings, graduates earn nearly $8,500 more than the Alabama median for this program and significantly outpace the national average. This 80th percentile ranking among Alabama programs is particularly noteworthy given that healthcare administration jobs often pay less in lower-cost-of-living states—yet these graduates are clearing well above local expectations.

The debt load of $23,209 sits right at the national median, resulting in a manageable 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates need less than seven months of gross income to cover their total student debt—a reasonable threshold for an associate's degree that gets you into the workforce quickly. The program's online format likely contributes to cost control while still delivering earnings that rival or exceed on-campus competitors.

For families in Alabama looking at healthcare administration programs, this represents one of the stronger values available. While Bishop State comes in cheaper, Columbia Southern's graduates earn $16,000 more annually—a gap that quickly justifies the modest additional debt. The program seems to effectively prepare students for the administrative side of Alabama's growing healthcare sector without the debt burden that often accompanies bachelor's degrees.

Where Columbia Southern University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Columbia Southern University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Alabama

Health and Medical Administrative Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Alabama (6 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach	$5,808	$39,247	—	$23,209	0.59
Herzing University-BirminghamBirmingham	$13,420	$30,821	$30,692	$35,484	1.15
Bishop State Community CollegeMobile	$5,280	$23,386	—	—	—
National Median	—	$31,719	—	$23,000	0.73

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 Columbia Southern University, approximately 21% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 36 graduates with reported earnings and 109 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.