Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at University of Delaware

University of Delaware's health sciences program presents a puzzling disconnect: while it performs near the national average, graduates earn $5,700 less than Delaware's state median for this field—placing them in just the 40th percentile locally. For in-state students, this matters because the state's other option, Wilmington University, posts significantly stronger outcomes at $47,000 in first-year earnings. That $11,000 gap is substantial when you're starting at under $36,000.

The debt load of $26,572 sits right at national norms, yielding a manageable 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio. But "manageable" doesn't mean optimal—you're taking on typical debt for below-average in-state results. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) adds some uncertainty to these figures, though not enough to explain away the state-level underperformance.

For Delaware families, this creates a strategic question: Why choose UD's health sciences track when Wilmington posts 32% higher earnings? If your student is set on UD for its campus experience or broader opportunities, this program works—the debt won't crush them. But if healthcare career outcomes are the priority, the data suggests looking elsewhere in Delaware or at stronger out-of-state programs where the earnings justify any additional cost.