Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at University of Saint Joseph

Similar health sciences programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $35,000 for bachelor's degree holders—a concerning figure when you're looking at $27,000 in estimated debt. That's nearly eight months of gross salary just to cover loans, before taxes or living expenses. While these estimates come from peer programs rather than University of Saint Joseph's actual graduate outcomes, they raise legitimate questions about return on investment.

Connecticut's health services market offers some context here. The two comparable programs in the state with reported data both show graduates earning in the low $32,000 range—actually below the national estimate this program is based on. That suggests the estimated $35,000 may be optimistic for the Connecticut job market. The $27,000 debt figure aligns closely with what other CT programs report, so that part of the equation appears reliable.

The fundamental challenge is that broad "health sciences" bachelor's degrees often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs rather than direct pathways to well-paying careers. If your child plans to continue to graduate school immediately, factor in that additional time and debt. If they're planning to work first, understand that entry-level health services roles in Connecticut appear to cluster in the low $30,000s—which makes even moderate debt a burden. Before committing, you need to nail down exactly what career path this specific degree opens up and whether those jobs exist in Connecticut.