Health and Medical Administrative Services at Portland State University

Based on comparable programs nationally, Portland State's health administration bachelor's degree suggests first-year earnings around $44,345—nearly $12,000 below what similar Oregon programs typically produce. That gap matters when you're facing an estimated $26,592 in debt. Healthcare administration roles in Oregon generally pay better than the national median, so if this program's actual outcomes align with these estimates, graduates might be leaving money on the table compared to peers at other in-state options.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 looks manageable on paper, falling well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. But context changes the picture: with 40% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on strong post-graduation earnings to justify the investment. When Warner Pacific graduates in the same field are reportedly earning $56,000—26% more—it raises questions about whether Portland State's program connects students to the same employment opportunities, or whether the urban Portland market advantages aren't translating into higher starting salaries.

The challenge is that without actual graduate outcomes, you're making an investment based on educated guesses from peer programs. If healthcare administration appeals to your child, push Portland State for concrete placement data: where do graduates actually work, and what do they earn? The difference between $44,000 and $56,000 amounts to roughly $1,000 monthly in take-home pay—enough to make or break those loan payments.