Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degree) at Northwest Technical College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$39,870

Est. from MN median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,750

Est. from MN median (5 programs)

Analysis

Healthcare administration is experiencing steady demand in Minnesota, but estimates from comparable programs suggest a middling financial return here. Based on peer programs across the state, graduates typically earn around $40,000 in their first year—matching the state median but lagging behind top programs like Anoka Technical College by more than $4,000 annually. The estimated debt load of $27,750 translates to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is workable but not exceptional for a two-year healthcare credential.

What's worth noting is that similar programs in Minnesota produce nearly identical outcomes whether at technical colleges or universities, suggesting this field has a relatively consistent earnings ceiling early in graduates' careers. The estimated first-year salary does exceed the national median by about $8,000, reflecting Minnesota's stronger healthcare labor market. However, with a third of students receiving Pell grants, families should carefully consider whether this debt burden is manageable on entry-level administrative salaries.

The practical challenge is that these estimates come from other schools' graduates, not Northwest Technical College specifically. If you're seriously considering this program, ask the admissions office directly about actual graduate outcomes and job placement rates—without concrete data, you're essentially betting that this program performs at the state average rather than significantly above or below it.

Where Northwest Technical College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all health and medical administrative services associates's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Health and Medical Administrative Services associates's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (23 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Northwest Technical CollegeBemidji	$6,246	$39,870*	—	$27,750*	—
Anoka Technical CollegeAnoka	$6,267	$44,570*	$45,511	$28,997*	0.65
Rochester Community and Technical CollegeRochester	$6,359	$43,381*	$44,275	$27,750*	0.64
Ridgewater CollegeWillmar	$6,109	$40,206*	$35,471	$25,902*	0.64
Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls	$5,900	$39,534*	$45,366	$24,475*	0.62
Rasmussen University-MinnesotaSt. Cloud	$10,899	$39,372*	$37,442	$26,000*	0.66
National Median	—	$31,719*	—	$23,000*	0.73

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with health and medical administrative services graduates

Information Security Analysts

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

$124,910/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Medical and Health Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate medical and health services in hospitals, clinics, managed care organizations, public health agencies, or similar organizations.

$117,960/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Education Administrators, Postsecondary

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

$103,960/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Computer Programmers

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

$98,670/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Northwest Technical College, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in MN. Actual outcomes may vary.