Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

A bachelor's degree in health sciences carries an estimated debt load of $27,000 at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, with comparable Louisiana programs suggesting first-year earnings around $39,500. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 falls within manageable territory—better than many bachelor's programs—but the variation across Louisiana schools tells a more complicated story about what this degree can deliver.

The challenge lies in the program's broad umbrella. Northwestern State's health sciences graduates earn $59,000 their first year out, while Nicholls State's earn just $28,000. Where Franciscan Missionaries graduates land in that spectrum matters enormously for debt repayment. The estimated $39,500 figure represents a middle ground among Louisiana programs, but it doesn't reveal whether students are heading toward higher-paying clinical roles or administrative positions that start more modestly. With over a third of students receiving Pell grants, that distinction affects families who have little margin for error.

The practical reality: if this program pipelines students into careers at the higher end of the health sciences range, the debt becomes quite manageable. If graduates cluster toward the lower end, monthly payments will strain entry-level budgets. Before committing, pin down which specific health careers this program prepares students for and what those roles actually pay in Baton Rouge's healthcare market. The degree's value hinges entirely on that career destination.