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

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 looks manageable on paper, but these figures—both drawn from national medians for similar health sciences bachelor's programs—mask the real challenge: breaking into Vermont's healthcare market with first-year earnings estimated around $35,000. The University of Vermont, Vermont's only program with reported outcomes, shows graduates earning slightly more at $36,441, suggesting the state's baseline may be marginally better than the national figure. Still, at roughly $24,800 in estimated debt, graduates would face monthly payments of about $275 on a standard repayment plan, consuming a meaningful chunk of entry-level healthcare salaries.

What complicates the picture is that "Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences" is an umbrella category covering everything from health administration to community health to pre-professional tracks. Programs under this label don't always lead directly to licensed clinical roles with clear salary floors, unlike nursing or respiratory therapy. If Vermont State's curriculum emphasizes general health education rather than specialized clinical training, graduates may find themselves competing for administrative or coordinator positions where employers prioritize experience over credentials. With 31% of students receiving Pell grants, affordability matters here—and the lack of program-specific data makes it impossible to know whether Vermont State's particular focus justifies the investment or whether graduates actually secure jobs matching these estimated earnings.