Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Idaho State University

Idaho State's Health Services program starts modestly at $33,122 but shows impressive momentum, with earnings jumping 46% to reach $48,352 by year four. That's the kind of trajectory worth noting—graduates aren't stuck at entry-level wages. Within Idaho's limited allied health landscape, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, and debt of $24,625 comes in below both the state median and typical borrowing levels for the field nationwide.

The real question is whether that first year matters to you. Nationally, this program sits in the 38th percentile for starting earnings, meaning most allied health graduates elsewhere start higher. But the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 is manageable—less than one year's starting salary—and the strong upward earnings curve suggests graduates are moving into better-paying positions relatively quickly. Among Idaho's four programs, this is a solid middle-ground option.

If your child can weather a lower starting salary and has reasonable confidence they'll advance in the field, the math works. The debt burden isn't crushing, and year-four earnings put graduates in a substantially better position than where they started. Just be clear-eyed about that initial earning period when planning finances.