Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Drake University

Based on comparable rehabilitation programs nationally, Drake's outcome profile sits squarely in the middle—first-year earnings around $36,000 against debt of $27,000. That 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio falls into reasonable territory for healthcare-adjacent fields, though it's worth noting that similar programs at the national median carry slightly less debt ($26,250) for the same earning power. For a private university charging Drake's tuition rates, this suggests either good aid packaging or that graduates aren't maxing out borrowing despite the higher sticker price.

The challenge with rehabilitation and therapeutic professions at the bachelor's level is that many career paths require graduate credentials to practice independently. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology all demand master's or doctoral degrees for licensure. If your child plans to continue their education, that $27,000 represents only the first layer of debt. However, if they're targeting positions like rehabilitation technician or therapy aide that require only a bachelor's, these earnings align with what entry-level roles typically pay—though advancement often still requires additional credentials.

The key question is whether Drake's specific program opens doors to graduate schools or employment that justify any premium over Iowa's public options. Without program-specific outcomes to verify, you're essentially betting on the institution's reputation and student support systems to deliver value that peer programs suggest is achievable at this debt level.