Health and Medical Administrative Services at Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State's Health and Medical Administrative Services program produces starting salaries significantly below both state and national expectations—$32,069 versus a state median of $38,406 and national median of $44,345. While the program sits at the 25th percentile among North Carolina schools, that's still concerning: graduates earn roughly 20% less than peer programs in their own state and nearly $18,000 less than UNC-Chapel Hill graduates. The debt load of $26,833 is actually slightly above the state median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that leaves little breathing room in those crucial first years after graduation.

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing significantly year to year. However, the pattern is troubling enough to warrant serious questions. At a school serving many first-generation college students (53% receive Pell grants), a healthcare administration degree should provide reliable entry into the middle class. Starting at $32,000 makes that climb much steeper, especially when neighboring programs demonstrate substantially better outcomes.

If your child is set on healthcare administration in North Carolina, programs at East Carolina, Campbell, or even University of Mount Olive show materially better returns. Unless there are compelling personal reasons to attend Fayetteville State—location, family circumstances, or specific career connections—the earnings gap is too substantial to ignore when other in-state options exist at similar price points.