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

South University-Savannah's health sciences program ranks solidly above Georgia's median—sitting in the 60th percentile statewide—but that relative success comes at a steep price. While graduates earn roughly $5,600 more than the typical Georgia health sciences graduate after four years, they're carrying nearly double the debt load: $57,500 versus the state median of $31,000. With 72% of students receiving Pell grants, this debt burden hits a particularly vulnerable population.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.57 means graduates owe more than 18 months of their starting salary, which is manageable for some healthcare fields but concerning for allied health roles that often start in the mid-30s. Earnings do grow 11% over four years to just over $40,000, but that trajectory won't dramatically change the repayment math. Nationally, this program ranks in the bottom 5th percentile for debt—meaning 95% of similar programs nationwide saddle students with less borrowing.

For families comparing options, the Georgia Southern and Clayton State programs deliver similar or slightly lower earnings with roughly half the debt. Unless your child has specific career goals that require South University's particular training or connections, the financial math here favors the public alternatives. The premium you'd pay isn't translating into proportionally better outcomes.