Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Walden University

Walden's online health sciences program charges a steep premium—nearly $50,000 in median debt, more than double what Minnesota students typically carry—for earnings that land squarely in the middle of the state pack. While graduates earn $50,436 initially, placing them in the 95th percentile nationally, that's actually below Minnesota's $52,212 median for this field. The University of Minnesota system delivers comparable or better outcomes at roughly half the debt burden.

The debt math tells a concerning story: graduates carry nearly a full year's salary in loans with minimal earning growth over four years. At the 5th percentile nationally for debt (meaning 95% of similar programs cost less), this represents one of the priciest ways to enter allied health professions. For a field where many students qualify for Pell grants—half do here—starting a career with $50,000 in debt can translate to years of constrained financial choices.

The bottom line: unless you're already mid-career with employer tuition assistance or specific licensing requirements that Walden uniquely meets, Minnesota families should look at state university options first. This is particularly true for traditional students, where the flexibility of online learning rarely justifies doubling your debt load for similar career outcomes.