Analysis
Is $27,000 in debt reasonable for a health professions degree that pays around $40,000 in the first year? Based on comparable Pennsylvania programs, King's College graduates would likely face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66—meaning they'd owe about eight months of their first-year salary. That's manageable by most standards and puts King's near the 25th percentile nationally for debt burden, meaning three-quarters of similar programs leave students with more debt.
The challenge here is that "Health Professions" is an unusually broad category, and the wide range among Pennsylvania schools—from $29,678 to over $70,000 in first-year earnings—reflects very different career paths. A graduate heading into healthcare administration, clinical research coordination, or public health faces dramatically different salary trajectories than one entering direct patient care. King's estimated $40,682 sits right at the state median, suggesting typical outcomes rather than standout preparation, but without reported data specific to this program, it's impossible to know whether graduates are clustering toward the higher or lower end of health professions careers.
The practical takeaway: this program appears affordable relative to likely earnings, but families should dig deeper into exactly which health professions King's graduates enter and what their specific career outcomes look like. The moderate debt combined with Pennsylvania's typical health professions salaries suggests reasonable value, but the lack of reported outcomes means you're making this investment without a clear picture of where graduates actually land.
Where King's College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all health professions bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania
Health Professions bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (16 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 King's CollegeWilkes-Barre | $42,600 | $40,682* | — | $27,000 | — |
 Saint Joseph's University - LancasterLancaster | $31,866 | $70,566* | — | $27,801 | 0.39 |
 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh | $21,524 | $44,545* | — | $25,239 | 0.57 |
| Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia | $51,340 | $36,819* | $70,368 | $26,576 | 0.72 |
 La Roche UniversityPittsburgh | $33,120 | $29,678* | — | $26,000 | 0.88 |
| National Median | — | $38,492* | — | $26,000 | 0.68 |
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At King's College, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 4 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.