Health Professions at Vermont State University

With estimated first-year earnings around $38,500 and debt near $25,000, this health professions degree appears financially manageable based on what similar programs across the country typically produce. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 suggests graduates could reasonably handle their loan payments, though it's worth noting these figures are drawn from peer programs nationally rather than Vermont State's actual outcomes—the small graduate cohort makes specific data unavailable.

The challenge here is context: health professions is an unusually broad category that can include everything from community health workers to clinical laboratory scientists, careers with vastly different earning trajectories. The national median sits right at this program's estimated level, which neither distinguishes it nor raises red flags. For a school with an 83% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell-eligible students, these numbers suggest the program delivers reasonable access without saddling graduates with crushing debt.

The real question parents should ask is about the specific career path this degree supports. If it's preparation for graduate school in a health field, the modest debt load is an advantage. If it's meant as a terminal degree leading directly to employment, understanding which health profession and its typical career progression matters more than these estimates can tell you. Contact the program to learn where recent graduates actually landed—that concrete employment data will matter more than these national proxies.