Health and Medical Administrative Services at Iowa State University

Iowa State's estimated debt burden of $26,592 for this bachelor's program compares favorably to what other health administration programs typically produce—both the national median of $31,000 and the state median of nearly $37,000. That's meaningful in a field where entry-level salaries hover in the mid-40s, as comparable programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $44,345.

The challenge is that Iowa programs in this field typically generate stronger earnings than the national average. Similar programs at Upper Iowa and Waldorf report outcomes closer to $47,000-$50,000, and Iowa's state median sits at $48,420. If Iowa State's actual graduates track closer to that state pattern, the debt-to-earnings picture improves significantly. If they align more with national norms, the program still offers reasonable value—a 0.60 debt ratio means graduates would need to dedicate roughly 60% of one year's salary to debt repayment, which is manageable but not exceptional.

The real uncertainty here stems from limited graduate data: we're working with national benchmarks rather than actual Iowa State outcomes. For a parent evaluating this investment, the reasonable debt load provides some cushion against earnings uncertainty, but understanding where this program's graduates actually land in Iowa's healthcare administration market would make the decision clearer. Request placement outcomes or alumni employment data directly from the program.