Health and Medical Administrative Services at Rasmussen University-North Dakota

With nearly $45,000 in debt against first-year earnings of $46,361, Rasmussen's healthcare administration program sits right at the edge of manageable—you'll notice that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96 means graduates start out owing almost an entire year's salary. The program does edge out the national median for earnings by about $2,000, landing in the 60th percentile among North Dakota programs (though there are only two offering this degree in-state). More encouragingly, debt here is notably lower than the national median of $31,000—landing in the favorable 24th percentile.

The earnings trajectory shows modest but steady growth, climbing 7% to just under $50,000 by year four. That's hardly explosive, but it's consistent movement in the right direction. For students receiving Pell grants—and nearly half of Rasmussen's students do—this represents a viable path into healthcare administration, particularly if they're already working in the field and need credentials to advance. The debt load is substantial but not crushing, assuming graduates secure positions quickly.

The bottom line: This program delivers what you'd expect from a regional healthcare administration degree—stable middle-income career prospects with manageable, if substantial, debt. If your student can graduate with less debt through scholarships or part-time work, this becomes considerably more attractive. But at full sticker price, they'll spend their first few years making steady payments rather than building wealth.