Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions at University of the Pacific

A bachelor's in rehabilitation and therapeutic professions typically launches graduates into starting salaries around $36,000—solid public-service work, but hardly lucrative given the time and expense involved. What makes University of the Pacific's program harder to evaluate is that both the earnings and debt figures here are estimates drawn from peer programs nationally, since the graduate cohort is too small for the Department of Education to report. The $27,000 estimated debt is slightly above the national median for this field, which may reflect Pacific's status as a private university with higher tuition. California programs in this field show considerable variation, with reported earnings at Cal State LA around $33,000 and median debt for the state at just $12,800—suggesting some California students find much more affordable paths to the same credential.

The 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within workable territory for a helping profession, but that calculation depends entirely on whether the actual outcomes at Pacific match these national estimates. Rehabilitation fields often require additional certifications or graduate degrees to advance, which means this bachelor's degree may be just the first step in a longer educational journey. If your child is committed to this career path, investigating whether Pacific's specific program justifies the premium over California State options becomes essential—especially since the data gap means you're making decisions without visibility into this program's actual graduate outcomes.