Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Hilbert College

Based on comparable rehabilitation programs across New York, graduates face a manageable debt load of around $27,000 against first-year earnings near $40,000. That 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests monthly loan payments would consume roughly 8-9% of gross income—uncomfortable but not crushing. However, this figure masks significant variation among New York programs: top performers like CUNY York and D'Youville report outcomes in the $50,000-$58,000 range, while Hilbert's peer programs cluster closer to the state median.

The challenge here is opportunity cost. With a 98% admission rate and Pell grant population of 44%, Hilbert serves students who need education to open doors. Yet rehabilitation professions often require graduate credentials for full licensure—meaning this bachelor's degree may be a stepping stone rather than a terminal credential. If your child needs a master's degree to practice as an occupational or physical therapist, you're looking at stacking additional debt on top of these estimates.

The practical question: Can your family afford this path if the actual outcomes fall anywhere within the range of comparable programs? If $40,000 starting salaries work for your situation and your child has a clear plan for either entering the workforce or continuing to graduate school, the debt level is reasonable. But if stronger programs with better placement networks are accessible—and affordable—those would reduce the financial risk considerably.