Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Valdosta State University

The limited data here—fewer than 30 graduates—makes it hard to draw firm conclusions, but the snapshot isn't encouraging. First-year earnings of $28,490 fall below both the state median ($31,052) and lag significantly behind Georgia's top performers, where graduates earn $8,000+ more annually. The debt load matches Georgia's typical burden for this degree, but when paired with below-average starting salaries, it creates a debt-to-earnings ratio that exceeds 1.0—meaning graduates owe more than they earn in their first year.

What's particularly notable is that while Valdosta State serves a substantial population of lower-income students (51% on Pell grants), the program appears to be placing them into the lower tier of health services careers. At the 40th percentile statewide, this program sits squarely in the bottom half of Georgia options, and the 15th percentile nationally suggests these graduates may be entering support roles rather than better-compensated clinical positions. Schools like Clayton State and Georgia Southern, with similar access missions, are managing meaningfully better outcomes.

Given the uncertainty from the small sample and the consistently lower earnings across all benchmarks, families should investigate exactly which health careers these graduates enter. If your child is targeting nursing, respiratory therapy, or other licensed clinical roles, verify whether this specific program leads there—because the earnings suggest it may not be the most direct path to those positions.