Health and Medical Administrative Services at Hutchinson Community College

Hutchinson Community College's medical administrative program punches well above its weight nationally, delivering first-year earnings of $42,134—putting graduates in the 95th percentile compared to similar programs across the country. That's $10,000+ more than the typical associate's degree in this field earns nationally. Within Kansas, however, the picture is more modest: graduates land in the 60th percentile, slightly ahead of the state median of $40,753 but not dramatically so. This makes sense given Kansas's generally strong healthcare administration market.

The debt load of $23,849 translates to a manageable 0.57 ratio against first-year earnings—you'd expect to pay about 57 cents in debt for every dollar earned in year one. Earnings grow modestly but steadily to $43,829 by year four, suggesting stable career progression rather than explosive growth. For context, this beats Rasmussen's Kansas program by nearly $3,000 in starting salary.

For parents of Kansas residents, this represents solid value: competitive in-state earnings with reasonable debt, and if your child's career takes them out of state, those credentials translate to top-tier national earnings. The program works particularly well if healthcare administration appeals more than clinical roles, offering administrative career stability without the physical demands of direct patient care.