Health and Medical Administrative Services at Eastern Kentucky University

Healthcare administration programs in Kentucky cluster tightly around $44,500 in first-year earnings, and Eastern Kentucky's estimated performance sits right in that pack—though the real story emerges by year four, when actual reported earnings jump to $53,994. That $9,500 gain suggests graduates land entry-level billing or scheduling roles initially, then move into supervisory or specialized positions as they prove themselves in healthcare settings.

The $24,500 debt load looks reasonable at first glance, sitting below Kentucky's median for this field and well under the national average. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, graduates would need to commit roughly half their first-year salary to repay loans—manageable but tight for someone potentially relocating to take their first healthcare admin job. The university serves a significant population of Pell-eligible students (39%), which means many graduates may be building career credentials without family financial safety nets.

Here's what matters: if the estimated first-year earnings hold true and the year-four jump reflects actual career progression, this program delivers steady if unspectacular returns. You're looking at a degree that gets your child employed in a stable healthcare sector, with debt that won't strangle them but will require discipline to pay down. The uncertainty around that first-year estimate matters less than the confirmed mid-career number—just know that initial months may be financially tighter than the projections suggest.