Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at University of Maryland Eastern Shore

University of Maryland Eastern Shore graduates earn $30,423 in their first year—below the national median but right at Maryland's median for this field. That 60th percentile state ranking tells an important story: while this program sits in the bottom quarter nationally, it's actually performing at or above the middle of the pack for Maryland rehabilitation programs. The debt load of $29,750 is higher than both national and state benchmarks, creating a nearly 1:1 debt-to-earnings ratio that means graduates start with debt nearly equal to their entire first-year salary.

The positive news is meaningful earnings growth—a 35% jump to $40,916 by year four suggests graduates gain traction as they establish themselves in the field. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly with more data. The school's 53% Pell Grant population indicates it serves students who may have fewer financial safety nets, making that initial debt burden particularly consequential.

For Maryland families committed to rehabilitation professions, this program isn't dramatically different from in-state alternatives—you're looking at similar starting salaries regardless of which Maryland school you choose. The key question is whether the slightly higher debt here justifies staying close to home or other campus-specific factors, since the financial outcomes cluster tightly across the state's programs.