Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Ohio State University-Main Campus

A $24,790 debt load would place Ohio State graduates well below both state and national debt medians for this bachelor's degree—but here's the catch: with estimated first-year earnings around $35,810, that's essentially matching what similar health sciences programs across Ohio produce. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 looks manageable on paper, yet it's worth noting that other bachelor's programs in health fields at Ohio institutions show dramatic variation. Mercy College of Ohio grads, for instance, start near $65,000, while Otterbein sits closer to $30,500. This wide range suggests that "Health Services" is an umbrella covering very different career paths, from medical billing to clinical coordination to health administration.

For Ohio State specifically, the relatively moderate debt estimate combined with the school's broader resources and reputation could provide networking advantages that raw salary figures don't capture. However, parents should recognize that $35,810 translates to roughly $2,100 monthly after taxes—tight when managing a $25,000 loan balance, even with favorable repayment terms. The fact that Ohio State's data requires estimation (small graduate cohort) might indicate this isn't a flagship program at the institution, which could affect both specialization options and employer connections within the field.

Before committing, nail down exactly which health services track this degree follows. The career trajectory for a health information manager differs vastly from a community health educator, and that distinction matters more than the institutional name on the diploma.