Health and Medical Administrative Services at Columbia Southern University

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.