Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Bellarmine University

A debt load approaching $27,000 for first-year earnings around $36,000 creates a workable but tight financial picture. Based on national patterns for rehabilitation and therapeutic professions bachelor's programs, this 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in reasonable territory—graduates would dedicate about three-quarters of their first year's income to debt if they paid it all at once, though in practice monthly payments would run roughly $300 over ten years. That's manageable but leaves little room for error if your child plans to live independently right after graduation.

What complicates the evaluation here is that both figures are estimates drawn from peer institutions nationally since Bellarmine's actual graduate outcomes aren't publicly available due to small sample sizes. Kentucky's median debt for similar programs runs lower at $20,900, which raises questions about whether Bellarmine's costs align with regional norms. Meanwhile, the estimated earnings fall right at the national median—neither impressive nor problematic, but typical for this field where many graduates pursue additional credentials or clinical certifications that boost earning potential later.

For a family considering this investment, the key question is whether your child has clear career goals that match what a bachelor's in this field delivers. If they're planning graduate school or specific licensure pathways, this degree becomes a stepping stone rather than a terminal credential. Without that clarity, you're looking at modest starting pay with debt that demands disciplined repayment.