Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at California State University-Los Angeles

Similar health sciences programs across California suggest first-year earnings around $40,000—decent for a bachelor's degree, but hardly exceptional given the field's reputation. Combined with estimated debt of $16,400, the math works: you're looking at roughly 41% of a year's salary in loans, manageable by most standards and well below the concerning 1:1 threshold some graduates face.

What's harder to judge is trajectory. Health sciences is notoriously broad, covering everything from healthcare administration to clinical support roles. Top-performing CSU campuses show considerable variation—Sacramento and Fresno graduates earn in the mid-$40,000s, while National University alumni start above $55,000. These differences often reflect whether graduates move directly into clinical settings, pursue additional certifications, or land in administrative positions. Without knowing which specific concentrations Cal State LA emphasizes or where their graduates actually land, the estimated $40,000 figure tells parents less than usual.

For a campus serving predominantly Pell-eligible students, the relatively modest debt is the clearest positive signal here. If your child knows exactly what healthcare niche they're targeting and has confirmed that Cal State LA's specific program feeds into it, the financial foundation seems reasonable. But if they're choosing "health sciences" as a broad gateway hoping to figure out the details later, that lack of clarity makes peer program estimates even less useful for gauging this particular investment.