Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at University of Missouri-Columbia

A debt load around $25,500 for a bachelor's degree is relatively modest, but when paired with first-year earnings in the mid-$30,000 range—typical for rehabilitation and therapeutic professions nationally—it translates to roughly seven months of gross income owed. That's manageable compared to many health-related fields, though it's worth noting these figures come from peer programs across the country rather than MU-Columbia's specific outcomes. The school hasn't reported its own data due to small graduate cohorts, so we're working with what similar programs typically produce.

The real question is where this degree leads next. Many rehabilitation professions require graduate training—physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology all need master's degrees or doctorates for licensure. If your student is using this bachelor's as a stepping stone, the relatively modest debt matters less than their ability to secure funding for graduate school. If they're planning to work immediately after graduation, they should understand that $36,000 represents an entry point in fields where advancement often depends on additional credentials.

For a student committed to rehabilitation professions with a clear path forward, this represents a reasonable financial foundation. The debt won't be crushing, and MU-Columbia offers a research university environment at a flagship institution. Just confirm whether their specific career goal requires graduate work—that answer determines whether these numbers tell the whole financial story or just the first chapter.