Analysis
Comparable health professions bachelor's programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $38,500 against estimated debt of $25,000—a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio that sits in reasonable territory for an allied health degree. Without program-specific data from UW-Oshkosh, we're relying on peer institutions to paint this picture, but the fundamentals look workable: you'd be borrowing roughly eight months of income to finance four years of education.
The challenge lies in what "health professions" actually means here. This umbrella category spans everything from health administration to clinical lab science to public health—fields with vastly different earning trajectories. UW-Stevens Point's similar program reports nearly identical first-year earnings ($36,800), suggesting Wisconsin health profession graduates generally start in this mid-to-high $30,000s range. That's respectable for year one in many allied health roles, though it trails nursing or other clinical tracks by $10,000-15,000 immediately.
For parents, the key question is which specific concentration within health professions your student would pursue. The estimated numbers suggest manageable debt for a stable field, but without knowing whether this leads to medical coding, health informatics, or community health work, you're making a decision with significant blind spots. Talk directly with the department about job placement rates and which employers hire their graduates—that concrete information matters more than these broad estimates.
Where University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all health professions bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in Wisconsin
Health Professions bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Wisconsin (3 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $8,212 | $38,492* | — | $24,990* | — | |
| $8,834 | $36,797* | $44,129 | $23,500* | 0.64 | |
| National Median | — | $38,492* | — | $26,000* | 0.68 |
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, approximately 16% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 44 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.