Health and Medical Administrative Services at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

SIU-Carbondale's healthcare administration program trails most Illinois alternatives by a meaningful margin. Graduates here earn $42,186 in their first year—about $4,000 below the state median and $2,000 below the national benchmark. Among the 21 Illinois schools offering this degree, this program sits just above the 40th percentile, meaning six in ten programs produce stronger earnings outcomes. The gap widens when you look at top performers: University of St. Francis graduates nearly double these earnings, while even mid-tier options like Illinois State deliver $7,000 more annually.

The debt load compounds the concern. At $25,000, graduates here carry less than the national median, but the 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio still means owing more than half a year's salary—manageable but not particularly favorable given the modest earnings trajectory. Four-year earnings climb just 5% to $44,205, suggesting limited advancement potential in whatever healthcare administrative roles these graduates secure.

For families considering this program, the comparison to nearby alternatives matters. If in-state tuition makes SIU-Carbondale substantially cheaper than higher-earning programs, the lower debt might justify the earnings tradeoff. But if cost differences are modest, programs like Illinois State or Loyola deliver significantly better returns without necessarily imposing proportionally higher debt. This program works as a backup option, not a first choice.