Physiology, Pathology at University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS's physiology and pathology program produces first-year earnings of $32,629—slightly above the national median but trailing other Colorado options. Among the three schools in Colorado offering this program, UCCS graduates earn less than both the state median ($33,278) and CU Boulder ($33,926), placing it at the 40th percentile statewide. That gap matters when you consider many students choose UCCS for its in-state tuition benefits.

The debt load of $23,750 translates to a manageable 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates owe roughly nine months of their first-year salary. This falls comfortably within the safe zone for student debt, though it's worth noting the earnings here barely clear $30,000 annually. The program does perform better than the national median ($30,962), but that's modest consolation when state peers are pulling ahead.

For Colorado families, this presents a practical choice question: if your student is choosing between state schools and cost is similar, CU Boulder's stronger earnings track record deserves consideration. However, UCCS's 97% admission rate makes it accessible to a broader range of students, and the debt burden isn't alarming. This works as a stepping stone for students planning graduate school or careers where advanced degrees matter more than bachelor's-level earnings, but it's not the value leader among Colorado's physiology programs.