Health and Medical Administrative Services at National American University-Rapid City

National American University-Rapid City's healthcare administration program generates slightly above-average earnings—$45,392 in the first year, putting graduates in the 60th percentile among South Dakota programs—but pairs those modest returns with debt levels that should concern any parent. At $52,058, graduates carry nearly 70% more debt than the national median for this degree ($30,998), landing in the 95th percentile nationally for debt burden. That means 95% of similar programs nationwide send students out with less debt.

The 1.15 debt-to-earnings ratio tells the practical story: graduates owe more than their entire first-year salary. While earnings do tick up to $48,242 by year four (a 6% gain), that growth barely makes a dent in what becomes a long repayment timeline. For context, over half the students here receive Pell grants, meaning many families are already financially stretched before taking on this debt load.

The fundamental problem isn't the program's ability to place graduates—the earnings are competitive for South Dakota. It's the financing model. Unless you can substantially reduce borrowing through scholarships or family contributions, this degree's cost structure makes it difficult to recommend, even if your child is committed to healthcare administration. Look hard at whether in-state public options or community college pathways could deliver similar credentials at a fraction of the debt.