Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Drury University

A $27,000 debt load for a bachelor's in rehabilitation and therapeutic professions might initially seem manageable—until you consider that peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $36,000. That 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio isn't alarming, but it does mean graduates will likely face a debt burden equivalent to nine months of their gross income. Missouri's typical debt for these programs sits at $26,687, so Drury appears in line with state norms, though with only six programs statewide, options for comparison are limited.

The challenge here is less about the debt and more about the earnings trajectory. Rehabilitation fields often require additional credentials or graduate education for meaningful salary growth, which means that $36,000 starting point may represent just the beginning of your educational investment. If this program serves as preparation for physical therapy, occupational therapy, or similar graduate studies, the bachelor's debt becomes one layer of a larger financial picture. Without knowing this specific program's graduate school placement rates or career outcomes, you're making decisions with incomplete information.

For families comfortable with modest debt and a longer timeline to career establishment, this could work—especially if your student is certain about pursuing advanced credentials in the field. But if the plan is to enter the workforce directly after the bachelor's degree, comparable programs suggest a tight budget in those early years, with student loan payments consuming a meaningful chunk of entry-level paychecks.