Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at American InterContinental University System

Based on comparable programs nationally, a bachelor's in health sciences at AIU would saddle graduates with an estimated $57,500 in debt—more than double the $26,690 national median for this field and well above the $27,000 typical in Arizona. That debt load creates a challenging financial picture when paired with first-year earnings near $35,000, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.63 that suggests graduates would be spending most of their first few years just servicing loans.

The earnings themselves aren't the problem—$35,000 aligns with what similar programs produce nationally. But Arizona State's health sciences graduates report making nearly $38,000, with half the debt load. That $3,000 earnings difference matters less than the dramatic gap in borrowing: AIU's estimated debt is more than twice what Arizona State students typically carry. For a family already stretching financially (73% of AIU students qualify for Pell grants), that extra $30,000 in loans translates to years of additional payments.

Health sciences bachelor's degrees can open doors to various healthcare roles, but the path matters. With estimates suggesting you'd borrow twice the state average to earn comparable wages, this program presents a cost structure that would require careful justification. Before committing, get concrete placement data and understand exactly which careers this degree qualifies you for—vague "allied health" credentials can mean very different things across schools.