Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Maryville University of Saint Louis

When a health services bachelor's degree carries $27,000 in debt—right at the state and national median—the question becomes whether the estimated first-year earnings justify it. Based on six comparable Missouri programs, graduates typically earn around $36,430 in their first year, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That's manageable on paper, but it means spending roughly nine months of gross income to clear the debt, and this broad health sciences category covers everything from health administration to community health roles with vastly different earning trajectories.

The challenge is that other Missouri programs with reported data show a wide range: Missouri State grads start at $44,443 while Northwest Missouri State shows $32,268. Without knowing exactly what concentration Maryville's graduates pursue or where they land jobs, you're working with a state average that might not reflect this program's actual outcomes. The debt load itself isn't alarming—it sits at the 25th percentile nationally, meaning three-quarters of similar programs produce higher debt. But paired with estimated mid-range earnings, there's little margin for error if your student enters a lower-paying health services role.

Before committing $27,000, press the school for graduate outcomes specific to this program: what jobs do students actually get, which healthcare settings hire them, and what do those roles pay in year one versus year five? The estimates suggest average results, but you need concrete data to know if this particular degree leads somewhere worth the investment.