Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Indiana University-Southeast

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 falls squarely in the manageable range for a bachelor's degree, though both figures here come from national peer programs rather than Indiana University-Southeast's own graduates. Similar rehabilitation and therapeutic professions programs across the country report first-year earnings around $36,000 and debt near $25,500—numbers that align closely with what other Indiana schools produce in this field. Indiana Wesleyan Marion, the only in-state program with reported data, shows earnings of $34,418, suggesting IU-Southeast's graduates likely land in a similar range given the field's fairly consistent compensation patterns.

The practical challenge is that $36,000 doesn't leave much cushion after loan payments, which could run $250-300 monthly on standard repayment. This field typically requires hands-on clinical experience and often benefits from graduate credentials for advancement, meaning these bachelor's-level earnings may represent just the starting point of a longer educational investment. The 34% Pell Grant population at IU-Southeast indicates many students are financing their education significantly through loans, making that debt load particularly relevant.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your student plans to stop at the bachelor's level or continue to graduate school. If this is a stepping stone to a master's or clinical doctorate, these estimated outcomes are reasonable. If it's the terminal degree, comparable programs suggest modest but stable entry-level earnings that should allow debt repayment—just without much financial breathing room in those early years.