Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Duquesne University

In Pennsylvania, rehabilitation programs range widely in quality, but Duquesne appears positioned above the national benchmark. While first-year earnings here are estimated from four peer programs in the state, those comparable programs suggest around $40,000 in initial earnings—a figure that holds up well against the $36,000 national median for this field. More importantly, the actual reported four-year earnings of $64,655 show meaningful income growth, which suggests graduates are moving into professional roles that recognize their credentials.

The $27,000 debt load sits right at Pennsylvania's median for these programs and below the national 75th percentile, making it manageable relative to outcomes. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 based on estimated first-year figures, students should be able to handle repayment even during those early career years. The real payoff comes by year four, when that debt represents less than half of annual income—a sustainable position for most households.

The caveat is that we're working from limited data points. The four-year earnings are actual outcomes from Duquesne graduates, which is reassuring, but the first-year figure comes from peer programs rather than this specific cohort. For parents, the question is whether you're comfortable with the uncertainty around early earnings when the mid-career picture looks solid. If your child is committed to rehabilitation work and values Duquesne's professional networks in Pittsburgh healthcare, the trajectory here justifies the investment.