Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Nicholls State University

Nicholls State graduates in this program start at a worrying $28,062—well below both Louisiana's $39,553 median and the national average—but the story transforms dramatically by year four. Earnings jump 86% to $52,159, eventually surpassing every other Louisiana program except Northwestern State. That first-year figure places graduates in just the 25th percentile statewide, suggesting they're likely entering lower-level health support roles before transitioning into better positions.

The debt burden of $22,336 is actually favorable, sitting below both state and national medians for this field. Combined with that strong earnings trajectory, the financial math improves considerably after those first lean years. However, parents should understand what that initial period means practically: their child will likely earn less than $2,400 monthly before taxes right out of college, making even this modest debt challenging to manage initially.

The value here depends entirely on your child's willingness to work their way up. If they can financially survive those first couple years—perhaps with family support or additional part-time work—the program appears to deliver solid mid-career outcomes. But families expecting immediate post-graduation financial independence should look elsewhere. This is a delayed-payoff investment that requires patience and probably some bridge financing.