Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Loyola Marymount University

A $27,000 debt load at a selective private university might initially seem reasonable, but peer programs in California's rehabilitation and therapeutic professions tell a more sobering story. The national benchmark suggests first-year earnings around $36,000, while California programs specifically have reported lower returns—closer to $33,000. Meanwhile, comparable California programs typically graduate students with debt half as high, around $13,000. That $14,000 difference matters significantly when you're earning in the mid-thirties.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 reflects this disconnect between private university costs and a field where starting salaries cluster in a relatively narrow band regardless of institutional prestige. These therapeutic professions don't typically offer the salary premiums that might justify Loyola Marymount's tuition structure. Students at Cal State LA, for instance, enter the same job market with substantially less financial burden.

For families who can afford LMU without borrowing heavily, the smaller class sizes and network might hold value. But if your child will graduate with debt near this estimated level, understand they'll be managing loan payments that are notably higher than peers from public programs—without meaningful earnings advantages to offset that burden. In rehabilitation fields where credentials and licensure matter more than institutional brand, the math rarely favors expensive private options.