Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Idaho State University

When you're borrowing $25,000 to earn $36,000 in your first year—as peer rehabilitation programs suggest—you need to understand what that means practically. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 is manageable compared to many healthcare-adjacent fields, but this is a starting salary that will require careful budgeting. Based on national medians across similar bachelor's programs, you're looking at roughly $280 in monthly loan payments on a standard 10-year plan, which represents a significant chunk of that first-year income.

The bigger question is trajectory. Many rehabilitation professions—physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, rehabilitation counselors—see meaningful salary growth with experience and additional credentials. However, these estimates can't tell you whether Idaho State's specific program leads to employment in higher-paying settings like hospitals versus lower-paying community health roles, or whether graduates typically continue to graduate school. With only four schools offering this program statewide, your child's outcomes will depend heavily on the specific career path they pursue and Idaho's regional job market for these roles.

If your child is clear about their career direction within rehabilitation—and especially if they plan to work toward advanced credentials like becoming an OT or PT—this debt level is reasonable. If they're still exploring or uncertain about next steps, the limited data here means you're making this investment without knowing how Idaho State's program specifically performs.