Health and Medical Administrative Services at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University's healthcare administration program starts graduates at $38,134—below both national and state medians—but shows impressive momentum with 32% earnings growth reaching $50,307 by year four. That puts graduates roughly at the 75th percentile nationally by mid-career, a significant climb from the 17th percentile at entry. The $27,000 debt load is notably lighter than both Tennessee's typical $34,675 and the national average, making the initial earnings gap less concerning than it might appear.

Within Tennessee's healthcare administration landscape, this program sits at the 40th percentile—middle of the pack rather than leading. King University and Trevecca Nazarene start their graduates $8,000-$12,000 higher, though those programs likely carry steeper price tags. The real question is whether the strong earnings trajectory continues beyond year four or plateaus. For families prioritizing manageable debt and growth potential over immediate earnings, particularly at an HBCU serving primarily middle-income students (52% receive Pell grants), this represents reasonable value.

The moderate sample size suggests stable data, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 is workable. If your child is patient and comfortable with a slower financial start in exchange for lower debt and growth momentum, Tennessee State delivers. But if competing offers from King or Trevecca come with similar financial aid packages, those programs' higher starting salaries would be worth the comparison.