Health and Medical Administrative Services at Liberty University

Liberty University's online Health and Medical Administrative Services associate's degree shows a troubling pattern that should concern any parent: graduates earn $25,884 in their first year, then see their income drop to $21,699 by year four—a 16% decline when earnings should be climbing. While the program performs slightly above the Virginia median and carries relatively reasonable debt compared to national averages, that advantage disappears when you factor in the earnings trajectory. At $30,087 in debt, students are borrowing more than they'll earn in their fourth year post-graduation.

The math gets worse when you zoom out nationally. This program ranks in just the 17th percentile for earnings among the 864 schools offering this degree across the country. Even Virginia's top programs—like Bryant & Stratton in Virginia Beach or Tidewater Community College—deliver first-year earnings around $29,000-$30,000, giving their graduates a much stronger financial foundation. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these patterns are fairly reliable, not statistical noise.

For a program with a 99% admission rate serving many Pell Grant recipients, these outcomes raise real questions about value. If your child is interested in healthcare administration, exploring programs with stronger earning trajectories—or reconsidering whether the added credential justifies the debt burden—would be prudent before committing.