Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at University of Massachusetts-Lowell

UMass Lowell's rehabilitation program starts slower than most Massachusetts competitors but demonstrates something more valuable: strong earnings trajectory. While first-year earnings of $35,605 lag behind the state median and place this program in just the 40th percentile among Bay State schools, graduates see their income jump 47% by year four to reach $52,330—a pattern suggesting graduates move into more specialized or senior roles relatively quickly.

The debt picture is reasonable at $26,750, nearly identical to both state and national medians, yielding a manageable 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio. That means graduates owe less than a year's starting salary, a threshold that typically allows comfortable repayment. However, parents should recognize that early years may feel tight financially, especially compared to graduates from Assumption or BU who start $2,500-$3,000 higher.

The key question is whether your student can weather those first few years at below-market pay. If they're willing to live modestly initially—perhaps at home or with roommates—in exchange for career acceleration, this program delivers solid mid-term returns at a reasonable debt load. But if they need immediate earning power or prefer steadier, predictable income growth, programs with stronger first-year outcomes might better fit their needs.