Rankings / Outcomes
Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration
- 50
- Schools
- $87,921
- Avg. Earnings
- 81%
- Avg. Graduation
- $29,514
- Avg. Net Price
- $21,649
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 50 schools run from $72,273 to $137,047, a 1.9× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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University of California-San Diego delivers the most for the money: roughly $84,943 in median earnings against $12,470 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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The most affordable option, University of California-San Diego ($12,470 net price), still posts $84,943 in earnings, at or above the list average. Paying more does not guarantee a better outcome.
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University of Pennsylvania graduates 97% of its students, versus a 81% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Johns Hopkins University carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.12× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences ($131,426 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis ($137,047), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- University of California-San Diego costs $12,470 a year and Santa Clara University costs $50,062. Yet their graduates earn $84,943 and $109,183, nowhere near the $37,592 price gap.
- On value, University of California-San Diego beats University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The through line among the top-ranked schools is plain. They pair solid graduate earnings with affordable costs and meaningful social mobility. Prestige and selectivity matter far less than whether students end up better off.
What This Means for Students
Your shortlist should start with University of California-San Diego and University of Pennsylvania. For each school, look up the net price your family would actually pay, weigh it against typical graduate earnings, and build the decision around the return instead of the name recognition.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $84K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
- Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618.
- U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics.
- National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $131,426 ▲ +49% vs avg | $29,882 | 68% | 93 |
| $137,047 ▲ +56% vs avg | $31,817 | 69% | 89 | |
| 3 University of Pennsylvania #3 overall | $111,371 ▲ +27% vs avg | $28,699 | 97% | 88 |
| $125,557 ▲ +43% vs avg | $39,545 | 63% | 88 | |
| $109,183 ▲ +24% vs avg | $50,062 | 88% | 83 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $87,921 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 81% and an average net price of $29,514.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: University of California-San Diego — Net Price: $12,470 | Graduation Rate: 87%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Pennsylvania — 97% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis — Median alumni earnings: $137,047
CollegeRanker Primary Research
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$83,443
Median earnings (10yr)
82%
Median graduation rate
$29,651
Median net price
2.1%
Avg. mobility rate
Health-professions programs sit at the center of one of the country’s most acute labor stories. An aging population and chronic shortages in nursing and allied health mean these programs are, in effect, staffing the health system. The schools that rise here pair classroom training with real clinical placements and strong licensure pass rates. That pairing is the difference between holding a credential and holding a job.
The median graduation rate across these 50 schools is 82%. Median graduate earnings reach $83,443 ten years after enrollment, roughly $35,443 more than the national worker average of $48,000. Average net price, the cost after grants, is $29,651 a year, and median federal debt at graduation is about $22,230. Some 22% of students receive Pell grants, and mobility, the share of low-income students who reach the top quintile, averages 2.1%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $83,443 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
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Full rankings
Albany, NY · 53% accepted · $29,882 net
Why it ranks #1
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences lands at #1 with a 93/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (36/100). Graduates earn a median $131,426 a decade after enrolling, 49% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,882 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Saint Louis, MO · 90% accepted · $31,817 net
Why it ranks #2
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis lands at #2 with a 89/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (93/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $137,047 a decade after enrolling, 56% above this list's average, and net price runs $31,817 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
University of Pennsylvania lands at #3 with a 88/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (74/100). Graduates earn a median $111,371 a decade after enrolling, 27% above this list's average, and net price runs $28,699 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Boston, MA · 85% accepted · $39,545 net
Why it ranks #4
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences lands at #4 with a 88/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (28/100). Graduates earn a median $125,557 a decade after enrolling, 43% above this list's average, and net price runs $39,545 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
Santa Clara University lands at #5 with a 83/100 composite, led by academic quality (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $109,183 a decade after enrolling, 24% above this list's average, and net price runs $50,062 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Lehigh University lands at #6 with a 81/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $105,584 a decade after enrolling, 20% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,931 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Georgetown University lands at #7 with a 80/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (88/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $103,494 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $40,815 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Boston College lands at #8 with a 80/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (87/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $103,937 a decade after enrolling, 18% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,704 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Duke University lands at #9 with a 78/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (73/100). Graduates earn a median $97,800 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,612 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Villanova University lands at #10 with a 78/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $100,423 a decade after enrolling, 14% above this list's average, and net price runs $43,756 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Northeastern University lands at #11 with a 73/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $92,538 a decade after enrolling, 5% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,915 a year. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Johns Hopkins University lands at #12 with a 73/100 composite, led by academic quality (93/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (82/100). Graduates earn a median $87,555 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $18,809 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
George Washington University lands at #13 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $90,873 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $36,586 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
University of San Francisco lands at #14 with a 70/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (31/100). Graduates earn a median $89,812 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,431 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Fairfield University lands at #15 with a 70/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (26/100). Graduates earn a median $88,794 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $48,095 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Milwaukee School of Engineering lands at #16 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $89,070 a decade after enrolling, 1% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,453 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Case Western Reserve University lands at #17 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $87,989 a decade after enrolling, 0% above this list's average, and net price runs $41,190 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
University of Portland lands at #18 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (49/100). Graduates earn a median $82,804 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,210 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Dominican University of California lands at #19 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (35/100). Graduates earn a median $84,713 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $35,333 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
Quinnipiac University lands at #20 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (27/100). Graduates earn a median $83,759 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $40,675 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Boston University lands at #21 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $83,238 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,402 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #22
Providence College lands at #22 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (24/100). Graduates earn a median $87,054 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $48,523 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
New York University lands at #23 with a 66/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (51/100). Graduates earn a median $82,509 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $37,050 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Emory University lands at #24 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (70/100). Graduates earn a median $80,137 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,585 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Charlottesville, VA · 17% accepted · $21,565 net
Why it ranks #25
University of Virginia-Main Campus lands at #25 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (95/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $86,863 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,565 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Philadelphia, PA · 89% accepted · $29,689 net
Why it ranks #26
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia lands at #26 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $86,881 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $29,689 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Ohio Northern University lands at #27 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (47/100). Graduates earn a median $80,928 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,478 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
Binghamton University lands at #28 with a 65/100 composite, led by academic quality (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (61/100). Graduates earn a median $80,596 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,620 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Loyola University Maryland lands at #29 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $82,652 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $30,574 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #30
University of Rochester lands at #30 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $79,042 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $29,278 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Drexel University lands at #31 with a 64/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (77/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (33/100). Graduates earn a median $84,648 a decade after enrolling, 4% below this list's average, and net price runs $38,509 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #32
University of California-San Diego lands at #32 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (66/100). Graduates earn a median $84,943 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,470 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
College Park, MD · 45% accepted · $15,678 net
Why it ranks #33
University of Maryland-College Park lands at #33 with a 63/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by social mobility (60/100). Graduates earn a median $82,860 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,678 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #34
Linfield University lands at #34 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $78,638 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $26,536 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor lands at #35 with a 63/100 composite, led by academic quality (92/100) and pulled down by social mobility (52/100). Graduates earn a median $83,648 a decade after enrolling, 5% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,138 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #36
Immaculata University lands at #36 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $75,701 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,258 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
San Jose State University lands at #37 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by academic quality (71/100). Graduates earn a median $78,988 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,760 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Champaign, IL · 42% accepted · $14,355 net
Why it ranks #38
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign lands at #38 with a 62/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $81,054 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $14,355 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Seattle University lands at #39 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (41/100). Graduates earn a median $75,272 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $34,662 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
University of the Pacific lands at #40 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $78,445 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,447 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #41
George Mason University lands at #41 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $76,343 a decade after enrolling, 13% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,915 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #42
Brigham Young University lands at #42 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (75/100). Graduates earn a median $75,790 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,564 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #43
Marquette University lands at #43 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $78,257 a decade after enrolling, 11% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,487 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Wagner College lands at #44 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $74,360 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $28,241 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Gonzaga University lands at #45 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $78,892 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $35,119 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Oregon Institute of Technology lands at #46 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (69/100). Graduates earn a median $72,273 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,706 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Adelphi University lands at #47 with a 62/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $75,482 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $30,783 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Molloy University lands at #48 with a 61/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (74/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $77,789 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $24,347 a year, well under the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
Creighton University lands at #49 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $73,911 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $31,568 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #50
The University of Texas at Austin lands at #50 with a 61/100 composite, led by academic quality (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (63/100). Graduates earn a median $75,121 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,857 a year, well under the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Top states on this list
Choosing a college for a career in healthcare administration can feel daunting, especially with so many factors at play. These 50 institutions stand out for their strong outcomes in the Health Professions, offering not just degrees, but also promising earning potential for graduates. For instance, the average earnings across this list reach $95,002.
What sets these schools apart is their ability to translate education into solid career opportunities. Key outcomes like graduate earnings, completion rates, and manageable debt levels reveal the true value of these programs. As you consider the list below, keep in mind how each school's performance reflects its commitment to student success.
Take the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, for example, with impressive earnings of $137,047 and a graduation rate of 69%. In contrast, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences offers slightly lower earnings at $131,426 but has a similar graduation rate of 68%. These differences highlight the trade-offs you may need to weigh as you explore your options.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 40 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 2.1%. San Jose State University leads the group at 5.4%, with Binghamton University (5.1%) and University of the Pacific (4.3%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 4.6% of students start in the bottom income quintile. San Jose State University leads at 11.7%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 47.3% across this list. Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences posts the highest success rate at 85.2%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Social capital, measured by economic connectedness, captures the degree of cross-class friendship on campus, another dimension Opportunity Insights ties to long-run outcomes. Across these schools it averages 1.79 against a national benchmark of 1.0. Boston College reaches 1.89, the highest on the list.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Where These Schools Are Located
Frequently Asked Questions
Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration ranking? +
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY ranks #1 in our 2026 Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $131,426 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 68% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis posts the highest median earnings on this list: $137,047 ten years after enrollment, well above the $87,921 average across the 50 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, University of California-San Diego leads: graduates earn a median $84,943 against net price of about $12,470 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
University of Pennsylvania has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 97%, compared with a 81% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $29,514 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. University of California-San Diego is among the most affordable at roughly $12,470. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Highest-Paying Colleges for Healthcare Administration ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 50 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). →
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