Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Averett University

Based on comparable rehabilitation programs nationwide, this bachelor's degree appears positioned at the lower end of the earnings spectrum. The estimated $35,966 first-year income falls notably below what similar programs in Virginia typically produce—Longwood University's graduates in this field, for instance, report starting at $41,700. That $5,700-plus gap matters when you're carrying $27,000 in debt.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 looks manageable on paper, and the estimated debt load aligns closely with national norms for these programs. But here's the tension: rehabilitation and therapeutic professions often require additional credentials or graduate degrees to maximize earning potential. If your child needs to pursue a master's degree to become a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or similar practitioner, this bachelor's becomes the first step in a longer—and more expensive—educational journey. That context changes the value calculation significantly.

Before committing, determine exactly which rehabilitation career your child is targeting and what credentials that path requires. If they're planning on graduate school anyway, starting with $27,000 in undergraduate debt may constrain future borrowing capacity. If they're entering the workforce directly with this bachelor's, the earnings estimates from peer programs suggest they'll face tighter financial margins than graduates from higher-performing Virginia programs in this field.