Analysis
Simpson College's Health Services program illustrates a common challenge for families: evaluating a broad, interdisciplinary degree when specific outcomes aren't available. Based on similar bachelor's programs nationally, graduates typically earn around $35,000 in their first year with about $27,000 in debt—a 0.77 ratio that's manageable compared to many health-related fields. The issue isn't the debt load itself; it's what "Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences" actually prepares students to do.
These umbrella programs often serve as foundations for graduate school or entry points into healthcare administration, health education, or clinical support roles. The $35,000 estimate reflects this reality—it's lower than what direct-entry clinical programs like nursing or respiratory therapy typically produce, but aligned with administrative and paraprofessional healthcare positions. If your child plans to stop at the bachelor's level, understanding which specific career paths this degree opens at Simpson matters enormously. If graduate school is the goal, factor in additional debt against future earnings in fields like public health or healthcare management.
The bottom line: This program's value hinges entirely on what comes next. Before committing to Simpson's $27,000 estimated debt, get concrete answers from the school about where recent graduates actually land—job titles, employers, and grad school placements. Without that specificity, you're buying into a category rather than a career path.
Where Simpson College Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all health services/allied health/health sciences bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs Nationally
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,212 | $35,279* | — | $27,000* | — | |
| $21,810 | $98,520* | $77,878 | $23,875* | 0.24 | |
| $4,865 | $71,275* | — | $18,625* | 0.26 | |
| $16,450 | $66,407* | — | $27,796* | 0.42 | |
| $18,950 | $65,046* | — | $36,050* | 0.55 | |
| $8,864 | $59,186* | $54,753 | $42,605* | 0.72 | |
| National Median | — | $35,279* | — | $26,690* | 0.76 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with health services/allied health/health sciences graduates
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Simpson College, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 156 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.