Health and Medical Administrative Services at Illinois State University

Illinois State's health administration program shows earnings that outpace both state and national averages—graduates earn about 23% more than the national median—but the small graduating class (under 30 students) means these numbers could swing significantly year to year. At $21,500 in debt, graduates carry roughly a third less than typical borrowers in this field, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. That's meaningful when you're earning close to $49,000 in your first year.

The 16% earnings growth to $56,840 by year four is solid, though this program clearly isn't competing with elite outcomes like University of St. Francis ($83,000+). Among Illinois programs, it sits at the 60th percentile—respectable middle ground for a school with an 89% admission rate. The bigger concern is the limited cohort size, which raises questions about program stability and the reliability of these specific numbers. One strong or weak graduating class could dramatically shift the data.

If your child is already drawn to Illinois State for other reasons, this program offers a financially sensible path into healthcare administration with below-average debt. But the small program size means you should ask hard questions during campus visits about resources, internship pipelines, and whether recent placement data reflects the longer-term reality. The fundamentals look sound—just don't bank too heavily on these exact figures.