Health Professions at Saint Francis University

Is $27,000 in debt reasonable for first-year earnings of roughly $41,000? Based on comparable health professions programs across Pennsylvania, this appears manageable—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 suggests graduates could realistically handle their loans on entry-level salaries. However, the range among Pennsylvania programs is striking. While Saint Francis's estimated outcomes align with the state median, top performers like Saint Joseph's Lancaster campus ($70,566) show that some health professions tracks deliver substantially higher returns, likely reflecting differences in specialization or clinical partnerships.

The challenge with health professions degrees is that "health professions" encompasses everything from clinical lab science to health administration, and outcomes depend heavily on licensure pathways and specific roles graduates pursue. Saint Francis's estimated figures suggest middle-of-the-pack performance for Pennsylvania programs at this level—not concerning, but not exceptional either when schools like Pitt are producing $44,545 earners with similar debt loads.

For parents, the key question is which specific health track your student is pursuing. If this program leads to licensure in a clinical field with clear job placement, the estimated debt picture looks reasonable. If it's a more general health studies degree without direct licensure, you'll want to understand how Saint Francis supports students in converting that bachelor's degree into actual healthcare employment, since the estimates alone don't tell you much about this particular program's career placement strength.