Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Lipscomb University

A $27,000 debt load for first-year earnings around $36,000 creates a starting ratio of 0.75—manageable by most standards, though these figures come from peer programs nationally rather than Lipscomb's actual graduates. For rehabilitation and therapeutic professions, which often require additional certifications or graduate degrees to reach full earning potential, the real question is whether this bachelor's serves as a viable first step or an expensive detour.

Similar programs across the country cluster tightly around these same earnings and debt figures, suggesting a field where outcomes depend less on the specific school and more on what comes next. At roughly $36,000, first-year pay aligns with national norms but barely clears Tennessee's $35,000 median household income. The debt itself isn't crushing—monthly payments would run around $300 on a standard plan—but in a field where many graduates pursue master's degrees to become occupational therapists, physical therapists, or speech pathologists, that undergraduate debt compounds quickly.

For families considering Lipscomb, the value proposition hinges on what licensure or credential path follows. If this degree leads directly to employment as a rehabilitation technician or therapy aide, the numbers work moderately well. If it's a stepping stone to graduate school, you're essentially borrowing $27,000 for prerequisites that could cost substantially less elsewhere. Without program-specific outcomes to judge by, compare carefully against Tennessee public options before committing to private school pricing for a field where the graduate degree ultimately determines earning power.