Health and Medical Administrative Services at Tuskegee University

At $33,345 in estimated debt, this program sits below both the state median for health administration degrees ($38,210) and slightly above the national median ($30,998)—a relatively manageable borrowing level. However, first-year earnings of around $40,285, based on comparable Alabama programs, fall about $4,000 short of the national median for this degree. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.83, graduates would need roughly 10 months of gross income to cover their loans, which is reasonable but not exceptional. The challenge is that peer programs in Alabama show considerable variation: Columbia Southern's graduates earn nearly $52,000 while this program tracks closer to the state median.

The bigger question is trajectory. Health administration can lead to well-compensated management roles, but that typically requires experience and often additional credentials. Starting at $40,000 in Alabama's lower cost-of-living market isn't alarming, but it does mean your child would need to advance fairly quickly to make the investment clearly worthwhile. Nearly half of Tuskegee's students receive Pell grants, suggesting the university serves students who may have limited financial cushion during those early career years.

For families considering this program, the estimate suggests a workable but not comfortable start. If your child is committed to healthcare administration and values Tuskegee's community and HBCU experience, the numbers don't rule it out. But if the choice is purely financial, programs like Auburn or UAB appear to position graduates for stronger early earnings with similar debt levels.