Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at University of the Incarnate Word

The debt load here tells an important story: $38,436 is significantly above what most Texas students borrow for this degree—the state median sits at just $25,000. That's an extra $13,000 in loans compared to peer programs across Texas, even though similar allied health programs in the state suggest first-year earnings around $73,000. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 means students are borrowing roughly half their expected first-year salary, which creates manageable but not ideal repayment conditions.

What complicates this picture is the earnings trajectory. While comparable programs suggest starting around $73,000, actual four-year outcomes for this program show earnings of $60,000—lower than both the starting estimate and what graduates typically make at top Texas programs like UT Health Science Center San Antonio ($87,000). This backward slide suggests either different career paths among graduates or perhaps a concentration in lower-paying specialties within allied health.

For a family weighing this investment, the question is whether the access and support at an institution serving many Pell-eligible students justifies borrowing 50% more than typical for this field in Texas. The degree likely leads to stable healthcare employment, but you'd be starting with notably higher debt than graduates from state university alternatives who enter similar roles.