Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State's Health Services program starts graduates at $30,586—below both the state median ($33,166) and national average—but the story shifts dramatically within four years. Earnings jump 53% to nearly $47,000, surpassing not just the typical starting salaries but creating meaningful distance from peers. With debt at $23,251 (lower than both state and national medians), graduates face a manageable 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio that improves substantially as salaries climb.

The catch? This data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual career paths could skew these numbers significantly. The program ranks middle-of-the-pack within Arkansas (40th percentile), trailing UALR's stronger $35,746 starting point. That early earnings gap matters if your child needs immediate income, though the trajectory closes that difference over time.

For families comfortable with a slower build—perhaps students continuing education or entering roles with clear advancement tracks—the combination of below-average debt and strong growth potential makes this workable. But the small sample means you're betting on a pattern that might not hold for the next cohort. If your child needs predictable, immediate returns or plans to stay in Arkansas long-term, comparing individual outcomes at UALR would be wise before committing.