Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Boston University

Boston University's rehabilitation program starts slower than you'd expect from an elite institution, with first-year earnings of $36,705—barely above the Massachusetts median and landing at the 60th percentile statewide. However, the real story emerges by year four: graduates see earnings jump 69% to nearly $62,000, suggesting many are pursuing required certifications or graduate credentials before hitting their career stride. That delayed payoff matters because this is a field where licensure timelines often dictate earning potential.

The $27,000 in debt is reasonable, sitting in the 25th percentile nationally (meaning 75% of similar programs burden students with more). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, most graduates should manage repayment without strain, especially as their incomes grow. For a program at an 11%-acceptance-rate university, these aren't spectacular outcomes—places like Assumption University post higher starting salaries—but they're solid and improving.

The major caveat: this data represents fewer than 30 graduates, so individual experiences may vary widely. If your child is certain about this career path and values BU's broader resources and network, the program works financially. But if they're testing the waters or could attend a less expensive alternative, the premium for BU's name doesn't deliver an obvious return here—at least not in the early years when debt payments hit hardest.