Health and Medical Administrative Services at South University-Savannah Online

South University-Savannah Online's healthcare administration program serves a predominantly low-income student population (76% receive Pell grants) but saddles them with debt loads that rank among the worst 5% nationally. Graduates carry a median $55,123 in debt—nearly double the state median and 78% higher than the national average for this field—while earning just $39,722 in their first year. That translates to a debt burden of 1.39 times annual earnings, creating a financial starting point that would concern most families.

There's a silver lining in the Georgia context: these earnings land at the 60th percentile statewide, meaning graduates actually out-earn most in-state peers in this field. However, earnings barely budge over the first four years (just a 1% increase), and graduates still trail the national median by over $4,600 annually. When you compare the debt-to-earnings tradeoff against top Georgia programs like Reinhardt University ($49,073 earnings) or even Georgia Highlands College ($40,393 with presumably lower debt as a public institution), the value proposition weakens considerably.

For families considering this online program, the math is straightforward: your child would graduate owing nearly 40% more than they'll earn in their first year, in a field where salaries show minimal growth. Unless other programs are inaccessible or this specific program offers unique scheduling flexibility that justifies the premium, exploring lower-debt alternatives—particularly Georgia's public colleges—would likely yield better financial outcomes.