Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

The first-year earnings figure of $35,279 places this program above Wisconsin's state median of $29,260 for similar health sciences degrees, though the data comes from national benchmarks rather than UW-La Crosse's specific outcomes. The estimated debt of $24,790 translates to a manageable 0.70 ratio—meaning about 70 cents of debt for every dollar earned in year one. This sits slightly below both national and state debt medians for comparable programs, which typically range from $26,375 to $26,690.

The catch is that health sciences is an unusually broad category. Peer programs in Wisconsin show considerable variation in outcomes, and the lack of reportable data here means we can't know whether graduates are becoming medical technicians, health administrators, or pursuing other specializations that command different salaries. The 14% Pell grant rate suggests most students come from relatively stable financial backgrounds, which may influence their ability to absorb loans while establishing careers in healthcare support roles.

For parents, the key question is career trajectory. If your child plans to use this degree as a stepping stone to graduate school in clinical fields, the modest debt load won't create problems. If this is meant to be a terminal degree leading directly to employment, verify exactly what job titles recent graduates hold—that will tell you more than these national proxies can.