Health and Medical Administrative Services at Herzing University-Birmingham

Herzing University-Birmingham's medical administrative program charges roughly $6,000 more in debt than the typical Alabama program while delivering earnings that essentially flatline around $31,000. That's a notable tradeoff, especially when Bishop State Community College graduates earn $23,000 with far less debt, and Columbia Southern students pull $39,000—both from the same local job market.

The 60th percentile state ranking might initially seem reassuring, but dig deeper: this program ties the Alabama median for earnings while sitting at just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. With a 1.15 debt-to-earnings ratio and zero wage growth between years one and four, graduates face nearly four years of full annual salary just to clear their student loans. The 64% Pell grant rate tells you this program serves students who typically can't absorb that kind of financial setback easily.

For a family considering this investment, the math is straightforward: you're paying premium tuition for median-at-best Alabama outcomes. If medical office work is the goal, Bishop State offers a cheaper entry point, while Columbia Southern demonstrates that significantly higher earnings are achievable in this field. This program's value proposition depends entirely on factors not visible in the data—perhaps job placement support or scheduling flexibility that justifies the cost premium.