Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

A debt load near $25,000 for first-year earnings around $35,000 creates a manageable but tight financial picture for health services graduates. Based on national data from similar programs, this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 falls within reasonable territory—many healthcare support roles start modestly but offer stability and growth potential. However, parents should understand that "health services" is an umbrella term covering everything from clinical coordinators to healthcare administrators, and starting salaries vary considerably depending on the specific career path.

What's concerning here is the lack of program-specific data. When the Department of Education suppresses earnings and debt figures due to small cohort sizes, it typically means very few students are completing this particular program. That could signal limited enrollment, high attrition, or students transferring into more specialized healthcare tracks. For comparison, North Dakota has only two bachelor's programs in this broad category, suggesting most students in the state pursue more targeted healthcare degrees like nursing or allied health specialties with clearer career pathways.

The takeaway: if your child is genuinely interested in healthcare administration or a support role that requires this specific degree, the estimated financials aren't prohibitive. But the tiny cohort size warrants a direct conversation with NDSU about job placement rates, typical career outcomes, and whether students might be better served by a more specialized healthcare major that leads to licensure or certification.