Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Chicago State University

Similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,000 for rehabilitation and therapeutic professions bachelor's degrees, with debt loads typically near $25,500. That 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within a manageable range—borrowers would devote roughly eight months of gross first-year income to repaying what they owe—but the modest starting salary is the real constraint here.

The challenge with rehabilitation fields at the bachelor's level is that many positions either require graduate credentials for meaningful advancement or cluster in relatively low-paying clinical support roles. Other Illinois programs show similar outcomes, with graduates entering a field where $37,000-$42,000 represents the typical first-year range statewide. For a school serving predominantly Pell-eligible students (55% of Chicago State's enrollment), that starting salary translates to limited financial cushion during the crucial debt repayment years.

Parents should understand that while the estimated debt burden isn't excessive relative to earnings, the absolute income level means tight budgets early on. If graduate school is on the horizon—as it often is in rehabilitation professions—that changes the calculus considerably, potentially adding years and tens of thousands in additional borrowing before reaching higher-earning positions. This bachelor's degree may be a necessary foundation, but it's worth mapping out the full credential pathway and its total cost before committing.