Health and Medical Administrative Services at Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State's Health and Medical Administrative Services program produces graduates earning about $40,000 in their first year—roughly $4,000 below Michigan's median for this degree and $4,300 below the national average. While the program sits near the middle of Michigan's pack (40th percentile), several other public universities in the state deliver notably stronger outcomes. Davenport graduates, for instance, earn nearly $13,000 more annually, a gap that compounds significantly over a career.

The debt picture offers modest reassurance: at $28,457, borrowing comes in slightly below both state and national medians. The 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory, meaning graduates typically won't face crushing repayment burdens. However, when a program ranks in just the 27th percentile nationally for earnings, it suggests structural challenges—possibly weaker employer connections or curriculum alignment compared to competitors.

For families weighing this option, the concern isn't catastrophic debt but rather opportunity cost. With Grand Valley's 95% admission rate providing easy access, students could likely gain entry to higher-performing alternatives like Ferris State or Central Michigan, both delivering $4,000-$5,000 more in starting salary while maintaining similar debt levels. Unless Grand Valley offers specific geographic or programmatic advantages that matter to your family, the earnings gap warrants serious consideration of whether those other programs might position your student more competitively in Michigan's healthcare administration job market.