Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at South University-Montgomery

Among Alabama's health science programs, South University-Montgomery stands out for earnings—its graduates rank in the 80th percentile statewide, earning roughly $14,000 more annually than the typical Alabama graduate in this field. With starting salaries around $36,600 that climb to $40,600 by year four, graduates here outpace both state and national medians. This performance matters particularly given that 70% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program effectively serves students who need strong financial returns.

The complication is debt: at $57,500, borrowing here runs double both national and state averages for health science programs. That 1.57 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe 19 months of their first-year salary—manageable but substantial. For context, you'd typically see debt loads around $27,000 for similar programs elsewhere. Whether this premium makes sense depends on what drives the cost difference and whether those superior Alabama earnings hold up long-term for individual graduates.

If your child is committed to staying in Alabama's healthcare sector, this program's earnings advantage over in-state alternatives appears real and significant. But have a frank conversation about that debt load upfront—$57,500 requires careful financial planning even with above-average earnings. The program works financially, but without much margin for error.