Health Professions at California State University-Long Beach

The $38,492 first-year salary suggested by comparable health professions bachelor's programs would barely justify the estimated $24,990 in debt—yielding a manageable 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that aligns with typical undergraduate outcomes. However, the complete absence of program-specific data means you're flying blind about what graduates from Cal State Long Beach actually achieve. With 11 health professions bachelor's programs across California, and reported outcomes for only one peer CSU campus (Dominguez Hills at $37,856), the national estimates here may not capture important regional variations or program-specific strengths.

The broader concern is the vagueness of "health professions" as a degree category. This umbrella includes everything from health administration to clinical exercise physiology to health informatics—fields with dramatically different career trajectories. A program preparing students for graduate school in physical therapy looks very different financially than one leading directly to healthcare administration roles. The estimated $25,000 debt sits above California's typical $18,750 for this field, though it's unclear whether that reflects Long Beach's specific program or just sampling noise from national data.

Before committing, determine exactly what credential this degree provides and what jobs it directly qualifies graduates for. If it's primarily pre-professional preparation requiring graduate school, factor those additional costs into your calculation. If it leads to immediate employment, seek out actual Long Beach graduates in your child's intended specialty to understand realistic starting points.