Health and Medical Administrative Services at Salem State University

Salem State's Health and Medical Administrative Services program lands squarely in the middle of Massachusetts offerings—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—but trails both state and national benchmarks by a few thousand dollars annually. First-year graduates earn $40,506, about $2,400 below the Massachusetts median and nearly $4,000 below the national average. The debt load of $26,500 is actually lighter than typical for this field, resulting in a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that graduates should be able to handle within a few years.

The challenge here isn't affordability—it's whether healthcare administration roles at this salary level justify four years of college when community alternatives exist. The program serves Salem State's mission well as an accessible option (96% admission rate, serving significant Pell-eligible populations), but parents should recognize their student will likely start in coordinator or administrative assistant roles rather than management positions. The top-performing programs in Massachusetts, like Fisher College at $61,000, demonstrate substantially higher earning potential exists in this field for those who can access it.

For families prioritizing affordability and in-state tuition at a public university, this works as a healthcare entry point with reasonable debt. But if maximizing early career earnings matters, the $20,000+ gap between Salem State and top Massachusetts programs represents real money that compounds over a career.