Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at Saint Francis University

Saint Francis University charges $29,750 in median debt for a rehabilitation and therapeutic professions degree—relatively modest by national standards, landing in just the 5th percentile for borrowing in this field. The catch? First-year earnings data for this specific program had to be estimated from four similar Pennsylvania programs, which suggest around $40,000 in initial income. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 looks manageable on paper, but the real story emerges by year four, when graduates earn a median $71,144—a substantial jump that outpaces both the state and national benchmarks.

The earnings trajectory here is what matters most. While comparable programs across Pennsylvania typically start graduates around $40,000, Saint Francis alumni appear to reach significantly higher mid-career earnings. Whether this reflects the school's clinical partnerships, the specific allied health concentrations students pursue, or simply the career progression typical in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and related fields isn't clear from the limited data. What is clear: the debt burden won't overwhelm that first paycheck, and if the four-year earnings hold true, this program delivers strong returns relative to what families borrow.

The limitation is real—without direct reporting on this program's first-year outcomes, you're betting that Saint Francis performs at least as well as its Pennsylvania peers. The four-year number and low debt load suggest that bet may be reasonable, but you're choosing this program without the same transparency you'd have at Slippery Rock or Temple.