Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Columbus State University

Columbus State's Health Services program manages to keep debt reasonable while struggling to match even modest earnings benchmarks. Starting at just over $30,000, graduates earn about $5,000 less than the national median and fall below most Georgia peers. The $28,508 debt load is actually lower than both state and national averages, which helps keep the financial equation from tipping into concerning territory—though a 0.94 debt-to-earnings ratio still means nearly a full year's salary goes toward loans.

The 15% earnings growth to $35,000 by year four brings graduates closer to national norms, but that four-year timeline matters if you're servicing debt from day one. Within Georgia's health programs, this ranks dead-center at the 40th percentile, trailing schools like Clayton State and Georgia Southern that post $3,000-4,000 higher starting salaries. The university's 99% admission rate and below-average test scores suggest it serves a different population than selective programs, which may explain both the accessible entry point and the modest outcomes.

For students committed to allied health who need an open-access option in the Columbus area, the manageable debt keeps this viable. But families should recognize they're accepting below-average earnings for the field—and in a profession where many roles demand specific credentials beyond the bachelor's degree, that initial salary constraint matters more than in fields with clearer advancement paths.