Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at The College of Wooster

Is $27,000 in debt manageable when starting salaries hover around $36,000? For a rehabilitation and therapeutic professions degree from College of Wooster, comparable programs in Ohio suggest first-year earnings that align precisely with both state and national medians. The estimated debt load is also close to typical—about $27,000 versus a national median of $26,250. This creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75, meaning nearly nine months of gross income would go toward repaying what's borrowed. That's workable but tight, especially in a field where advancement often requires additional credentials like occupational therapy or physical therapy graduate degrees.

What's harder to gauge is whether Wooster's selective environment (54% admission rate, 1370 average SAT) translates into better outcomes than what we're seeing at larger Ohio public universities. University of Toledo graduates in similar programs earn about $37,500 their first year out, while University of Akron graduates start closer to $31,800. If Wooster's actual outcomes fall toward the higher end of that range, the investment makes more sense. If they track lower, you're paying private school prices—likely north of $200,000 in total attendance costs—for middling returns in a helping profession.

The core question: does your child plan to stop at a bachelor's degree or continue to graduate school? If this is a stepping stone to PT or OT licensure, Wooster's advising and research opportunities might justify the cost. If not, those public university options deliver similar entry points at a fraction of the price.