Health and Medical Administrative Services at Ottawa University-Surprise

Ottawa University-Surprise's health administration program delivers exceptional returns that put it at the top of both the state and national rankings. At $75,385 one year after graduation, graduates earn 70% more than the typical Arizona program and nearly double the national median for this degree. Even compared to the second-ranked program in Arizona (Pima Medical Institute-Tucson at $53,773), Ottawa grads come out more than $20,000 ahead annually.

The debt picture reinforces the value. With $29,198 in median borrowing—below both state and national averages—students face a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.39. That means graduates can realistically pay off their loans in less than five months of gross salary, an unusually favorable position for any healthcare administration program. The university's 37% Pell grant enrollment suggests this strong outcome isn't limited to wealthy students who might have outside advantages.

One note of caution: the moderate sample size means individual cohorts could vary. But the earnings advantage is so substantial—$30,000+ over state peers—that even significant variation would likely still produce strong outcomes. For families considering healthcare administration programs in Arizona, this stands out as the clear leader in graduate earning power.