Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Superior

A bachelor's in health sciences carries unique risks in Wisconsin, where the market appears less lucrative than the national picture. Peer programs in the state suggest a median starting salary around $29,000—more than $6,000 below what graduates earn nationally in this field. UW-Superior's estimated first-year earnings of $35,000, drawn from national benchmarks, may be optimistic given that Wisconsin's only program with reported data (UW-Stout) shows graduates earning just $29,260. That gap matters when you're carrying nearly $25,000 in debt.

The debt load itself—estimated from similar institutions nationally—isn't alarming at 0.70 times first-year earnings. But context is everything: if actual outcomes track closer to Wisconsin's state median, your child could face a debt-to-earnings ratio near 0.90, meaning they'd owe nearly a full year's salary. Health sciences is a broad umbrella that can lead to well-paying clinical roles or lower-paid administrative positions, and this program's outcomes remain unclear due to small graduate cohorts.

Before committing, determine exactly which careers this degree qualifies your child for and what those jobs pay in the Upper Midwest. If they're targeting nursing, radiation technology, or other licensed professions, they may need additional credentials beyond this bachelor's—making the economics even tighter. The uncertainty here isn't just statistical; it's vocational.