Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at University of Wisconsin-River Falls

Drawing from peer programs across the country, a bachelor's in Health Services at UW-River Falls points to an estimated first-year salary around $35,300—roughly $6,000 above what's typical for similar Wisconsin programs. With estimated debt of $24,800, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70, meaning the loan balance equals about eight months of income. That's manageable compared to many health-related degrees, though the relatively modest starting salary means budget discipline will matter in those early years.

The challenge here is understanding what "Health Services" actually prepares students to do. This broad field can lead to administrative roles in hospitals, health education positions, or stepping stones to graduate programs—each with vastly different earning trajectories. The national estimate suggests middle-of-the-road outcomes, neither concerning nor impressive. For context, UW-Stout's reported figure of $29,300 for similar programs shows considerable variation even within Wisconsin's public university system.

Given the data limitations and the program's generic title, parents should press the department hard on specifics: What jobs do recent graduates actually take? What percentage continue to graduate school? The estimated financials suggest neither windfall nor disaster, but without clarity on career pathways, you're essentially betting on your child's ability to leverage a general degree into something concrete.