Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services at Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst's allied health program leaves graduates earning about $7,000 less than the national median for this field, ranking in just the 30th percentile nationally and 40th percentile within Pennsylvania. Starting at $32,656, these graduates earn roughly what their peers at community colleges make—but they're carrying $28,332 in debt, nearly 50% more than the typical graduate in this program. When you're making $32,000 a year, that extra debt burden matters.

The good news is that the debt itself is manageable, with a first-year ratio of 0.87, and earnings do grow 20% by year four to reach $39,051. But here's the reality: even with that growth, graduates still trail well behind what they could earn from stronger Pennsylvania programs. Widener grads make $62,000, and even Community College of Allegheny County produces higher earnings while students likely incur far less debt.

For parents considering this program, the core question is whether the private university experience justifies both the higher debt load and the below-average earnings outcome. The numbers suggest it doesn't—at least not from a purely financial standpoint. Students interested in allied health would likely see better returns at one of Pennsylvania's stronger programs or at a community college where they could enter the same field with minimal debt.